It all began amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, in January 2021. Kelsey, accompanied by her beloved dog/ son Baxter, arrived on a new travel nursing assignment in Denver, CO – a city Kent's called home since 2015. Eager to shake 9 months of stringent social distancing, Kelsey (an early recipient of the COVID vaccine as a nurse) and Kent (recently recovered from the virus during the holidays) were introduced at a mutual friend’s birthday party, hosted at a local Airbnb. Upon meeting, the two spent the entire evening deep in laughter and conversation. Numbers were exchanged towards the end of the night, and a dinner date was set the following week.

Fast forward six months, Kelsey decided to make Denver her permanent home (okay, yes, in part due to falling for who she saw as the perfect dog dad… oh, and life partner, too). They moved in together and over the next couple years, they enjoyed traveling, visiting family & friends, indulging in date nights at various restaurants across Denver, and embarking on many adventures in the Colorado outdoors.

Two and a half years later, on the eve of Kelsey’s **th birthday, Kent surprised her by bringing her (and Baxter) back to the same Airbnb where they met. All he’d told her was that her birthday plans were starting early, but didn’t mention where they were heading. When they arrived at the Airbnb to candles, roses, and champagne, Kent dropped to his knee and asked Kelsey to marry him (spoiler – she said yes!). They celebrated the rest of the night by cooking a romantic Italian dinner, celebrating with family over FaceTime, and reflecting on memories from that first night they met nearly three years prior.