Clayton and Mariah began their story as so many others do-in the friend zone. As they traversed through high school attempting to discover who they were, they instead discovered each other while participating in their speech and drama department. Finding that they both had similar humor, a love for never taking things seriously, and a knack for being overly involved in as many extracurriculars as possible, they quickly became best friends. They snapchatted frequently (because why text each other in this day and age) and were lumped together in plays and speech competitions, quickly becoming even closer. And then….Mariah graduated. While they stayed close, what they weren’t prepared for was to be set up on a secret double date to see Finding Dory in theaters only 2 months before Mariah was set to leave the state for college. While on that double date, they *gasp* held hands. And after a 3 hour conversation outside of Mariah’s house, they decided they’d try being a couple for just the summer until Mariah moved away. Now, here they are 10 years later to say that their little plan to break up once college began didn’t exactly work out. Together, they worked their way through college, grad school, moving to a new town, adding four cats to their life (RIP Clyde), and ultimately moving to a new state. And, in 2021, while Harry Styles sang the song “She” live in Chicago in front of them, Clayton asked Mariah to marry him. After being engaged for 4 years, Mariah and Clayton decided that eloping was the route they wanted to pursue. So, on June 22, 2026, they are set to be married at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado surrounded by nature and a single photographer. After eloping, they plan to celebrate their marriage surrounded by loved ones and their honorary bridal parties at a lowkey get together in Lakeville, Minnesota.