In May of 2023, Kelly and Nate set out on an adventure to Northern California to visit a bucket-list destination—Yosemite! Kelly had hired a professional photographer to capture beautiful moments during their vacation. Unbeknownst to her, Nate reached out to the photographer separately to coordinate a special surprise—his plan to propose!

During their trip, they explored some of Yosemite's most iconic landmarks, including the towering giant sequoias, the stunning Tunnel View, Bridal Veil Falls, and El Capitan. They also took on some epic hikes, fully immersing themselves in the park's breathtaking natural beauty.

Their adventure continued in San Francisco, where they admired the Golden Gate Bridge, the Painted Ladies, and Alcatraz. Though Yosemite is known for its striking views, the food didn’t quite measure up to the scenery. To celebrate their engagement, they enjoyed a memorable meal at Chez Maman in San Francisco, where the waiter persuaded Kelly to skip the French dishes and recommended the mac and cheese instead. It turned out to be some of the best she’d ever had—though we’re still not sure if it was actually that good, or if it just tasted better after the culinary letdowns in Yosemite. Only another trip will tell.

In November 2021, after a challenging stretch of working as a nurse during COVID, Kelly was more than ready for a change of scenery—and what better way to celebrate our dating anniversary than with a cruise to Mexico? It was the perfect blend of much-needed relaxation and a chance to make new memories together.

Our first stop? Costa Maya, where we explored the ancient Mayan ruins of Chacchoben. The history there was honestly mind-blowing, and we took about a million photos to prove we were really there. As a bonus, we spotted monkeys in the wild, swinging through the trees above us. It was such a fun, unexpected moment! But just as we boarded the cruise ship after our adventure, Nate had a little... mishap. He went swimming with his phone still in his pocket. Let’s just say his new souvenir from the trip wasn’t exactly one he planned for. Luckily, we had sent his mom some photos before he waterboarded his phone, so we still have a few pictures to look back on, including some awesome shots of the pyramids—which, let’s be real, you don’t get to visit every day. Since then, we’ve learned to take pictures on both phones—just in case.

Next up: a Mexican cooking class in Cozumel, where we discovered we’re not quite the culinary geniuses we thought we were. With bottomless margaritas fueling our “expertise,” we set out to make Chipotle-style shrimp tacos, chili-spiced chicken breasts, and caramelized plantains drizzled with a chocolate and tequila sauce. Could we recreate it at home? Probably not. Actually, definitely not. We tried, and let’s just say… it didn’t turn out quite the same. Maybe it was because we didn’t have the bottomless margaritas this time? Or maybe it’s because we weren’t in Mexico with fresh ingredients… but we’ll just blame the margaritas.

Though we take the most photos on our big trips, we’ve also collected countless memories in between—snapshots of everyday moments, special celebrations, and spontaneous adventures. From quiet days at home to spontaneous get-togethers with friends and family, our photo collection is a true reflection of the little and big moments that make our journey together so unforgettable. Here are some of those, plus our engagement photos!