Riley and Jesse met and became friends in the summer of 2011 while working alongside each other at a summer leadership camp.

As their friendship grew, Jesse would do what he could to try and flirt with Riley. One time, Jesse even caught Riley checking him out (cannot be confirmed).

In 2018, Riley and Jesse went to dinner and a movie at the Living Room Theatre in Portland…as friends… and when dinner was done, Jesse asked Riley if she’d like to go on a real date sometime. Riley quickly said she needed time to think about it. So you’re saying there’s a chance!

Riley and Jesse began talking more and more, and attended a New Years Eve party together hosted by the wedding officiants, Greg and Laura Winterrowd. Due to the long standing tradition that you’re supposed to share a smooch when the ball drops, Jesse and Riley conveniently stayed by each other.

After New Year’s Eve, Riley and Jesse began spending more time together, just in time for Riley to move to Portland, and Jesse to move to Washington.

Since 2019, Riley and Jesse have mastered the art of the long distance relationship. They’ve spent hours talking on the phone, playing BattleShip and Cribbage through apps, traveling together, and spending time together with friends and family.

Although Riley felt very confident she could predict when Jesse was going to propose to her, Jesse surprised Riley at a Christmas party in 2022. Jesse worked with friends to have the engagement ring in one of the white elephant gifts. With everyone at the party in on the plan, Riley ended up being left with the engagement ring. She opened the gift and found a bottle of champagne along with a small brown box.

Jesse dropped to a knee and proposed to Riley, and this time, rather than saying she needed time to think about it, she said yes!

Riley and Jesse are looking forward to their life together, which will include fun travel, time with family and friends and trash talking over card games.

They can’t wait to celebrate their wedding day with you!