Olivia and Sean’s story... began in a way that feels perfectly fitting for them — through wide open country, good friends, and a little bit of boldness.

The two met on a phone call with a mutual friend that Sean was working with on a dude ranch in Wyoming. After a few minutes of back and forth on the phone, Sean told Olivia to come out to Wyoming so he could take her on a date. Olivia, deeply rooted in her work at a reining horse barn in Ione, California, politely said no. Sean, however, is not one to give up easily. He told her he would simply come to California instead.

After about a month of winning her over, Sean got a “maybe.” That’s all he needed. They agreed that if he flew to California, he could take Olivia on a date. On October 18, 2024, Sean landed in California and wasted no time. That night, he took Olivia to a country music concert in Sacramento, which proved to be a perfect first date. Over the next week, Sean and Olivia got a taste for what their relationship would look like. He roped alongside her closest friends and extended family, the Jones crew in Merced. He took her on dates to Apple Hill and through the historic streets of Sutter Creek. By the end of that week, Olivia went home and told her parents, “I think I found the man I’m going to marry.”

Shortly after, Sean headed straight to Montana to work at an elk hunting camp outside of Big Sky. Cell service was scarce. Messages came through occasionally by satellite phone, and already they were planning when they could see each other next. Sean returned to California just before Thanksgiving, meeting Olivia’s family and earning his place the old-fashioned way by fielding plenty of questions from little brothers. Together, they traveled to Lake Tahoe and Bodega Bay, blending adventure with family and beginning to build a dream for the future.

Around Christmas, Olivia traveled south to meet the entire Hightower-Carrigee crew. Sean showed her his world — from Louisiana farms and alligator swamps to country concerts and Christmas Eve family gatherings. With every mile traveled and each family member introduced, their bond grew deeper. For the next seven months, they faithfully navigated long distance, squeezing in visits and chasing adventure across the country whenever possible. In April of 2025, Olivia moved back to Wyoming, working alongside Sean’s younger brother and cousin at Medicine Bow Lodge. Surrounded by friends, family, and the rugged Wyoming landscape, Olivia felt her life weaving even closer into Sean’s world.

By July, Sean couldn’t stand missing out any longer. When it made sense for both of them, he moved to Wyoming too, where he popped the question to Olivia after they jumped into an alpine lake together. Sean told Olivia he had something he wanted to ask her, but she needed to stand and close her eyes. As they had already spent countless hours dreaming and praying about their future together, Olivia felt her heart pounding as she realized what was happening. When she opened her eyes, Sean was on one knee. Through tears of overwhelming joy, she said, “Yes, yes, of course I will marry you.”

Soon after, work called them in different directions once again — Sean heading north to Montana and Olivia returning to California. But they quickly realized they wanted to live their engagement side by side. After finishing his season in Montana, Sean moved to California and returned to work with OrthoPediatrics, the same company he had previously worked for in New Orleans.

At their core, Sean and Olivia are bonded by a shared love of adventure, the western way of life, and a deep, steady faith. They believe that every dream placed on their hearts is guided by the Lord, and that wherever life leads them — whether across state lines, mountain ranges, or new chapters — they will walk it hand in hand with Him leading the way. Their story is one of courage, laughter, family, and unwavering trust that sometimes the greatest adventures begin with a little boldness.

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