“What kind of engagement ring do you want?” The ultimate ice-breaker. That’s how fearlessly August jumped in. Mary? Not so much…but the question made her laugh enough to drop her guard enough to give this guy a chance.

They began dating in 2020, during the pandemic—a time when people were hoarding toilet paper, baking enough bread to feed small nations, and when first-date locations ceased to exist. Less distractions, deeper dialogues. And though neither had intentions of falling in love, life clearly had other plans. He was in love at first sight and she felt as though she’d known him for years.

August is the paramedic, diving head first into chaos, and Mary's the calm therapist, carefully considering every decision like she’s decoding hieroglyphics. So while their careers look different on the surface, they actually overlap: he's meeting people all day every day on their worst day, and she’s walking with people all day every day into and through the darkest parts of their story. It's a dynamic all its own, anchoring and energizing at the same time.

Their friends and families were immediately on board and have shown so much love, laughter, and support from the beginning — even onboard the cruise on the day he took a knee and asked her for her hand in marriage.

August and Mary are thrilled you can celebrate with them as they take one another’s hand and step into the rest of the journey with every hope and intention the future offers.