Our story together began in 2021 in Asheville, NC where I (Kaylee) grew up, when Thomas accepted a job in the Blue Ridge Mountains after college. If you have ever visited this area you know it is a small town where everyone knows everyone.

We were both in unique stages of life as the world was transitioning out of the height of the pandemic. After a little while living in Asheville Thomas began to feel the effects of a small town, as did I, and we both decided to do something that we sometimes hate to admit. In true Gen Z fashion we downloaded a silly dating app called “Hinge”, which is where we first reached out to eachother. I know I know, some of you may be rolling your eyes, but we honestly owe Hinge a serious 5 star review because it is the reason we crossed paths when we did.

Our first date was at a local brewery, and it’s safe to say that conversation came very easily between us. Time seemed to disappear as we discussed what seemed like every possible topic including things like family, hobbies, interests, our shared desire to live in Colorado at some point (which will be relevant here in a minute), and even a quick lesson on Kansas being the home of wheat and not corn. We talked until we were informed of the last call for drinks and had to head out so they could close down the business for the night. This pattern of connection continued as we enjoyed hikes, long drives, and walking laps around Thomas’s apartment in the evenings discussing our days and various other interests of ours.

Eventually it came time for Thomas to relocate to work, the location? Houston, Texas. It became evident that this was a journey we wanted to take together, as we knew what we had was very special. So we made the move. Houston was great and had lots to offer, but we realized after about a year that we missed the mountains and wanted to live in an area more conducive to outdoor activities and living the adventurous life that we are accustomed to. After some planning we decided to move to Denver, Colorado together.

Now to take a step back, when we were living in Houston we were planning a trip to Estes Park, CO with Thomas’s family for the month of July which seemed nothing out of the ordinary as this was a common vacation spot for them growing up. Now that we were living in Denver, Estes Park was a short commute from us. So we met up with the family and got settled in, starting the first day off pretty laid back - grabbing some coffee, looking for elk in Rocky Mountain National Park, etc. Everyone was pretty tired that afternoon so his parents and sister decided to rest at the house while Thomas and I went for a walk at Sprague Lake.

I had no idea what was about to happen. We walked about halfway around the lake when Thomas asked me a question that would make my world standstill. In other words, this is when the proposal happened, or when the happiest moment of my life happened. My answer was obvious as this was a moment I had dreamt of since meeting Thomas.

For this reason, Estes Park and the surrounding areas hold very close memories for us and that is why we are so excited to officially commit our lives together in Marriage surrounded by our dear friends and family.

We understand that traveling out to this venue is a journey for many of you, so we just want to thank you again to those who are able to make it. We also hope that you are able to enjoy the beauty of Estes Park during your visit, aside from the wedding occasion. There are many unique and beautiful places to explore, but it also allows you the ability to disconnect and enjoy some peace and quiet.