Ryan and Annabelle met for the first time in 2nd grade. A mutual friend introduced them to each other on the playground resulting in an instant dislike from Annabelle. Who was this random boy that her best friend was spending time with?! Little did they know, Ryan and Annabelle would spend the next two years paired together in an accelerated track--becoming best buds. At one point, Annabelle even told a classmate that she had a crush on Ryan. News travelled fast through the elementary school playground. This friend ended up telling Ryan the big secret, to which he turned towards Annabelle and asked case and point "do you have a crush on me??" Mortified, Annabelle denied everything he had heard. To this day, Ryan still claims he hardly knew what a crush even was at the ripe age of 9.

Throughout middle school and high school, Annabelle and Ryan remained friends from a distance. However, during senior year, they reconnected in psychology class, and found that they had a lot more in common than they previously believed. In an attempt to share the gospel with a friend, the two became mutually impressed with one another's faith and ability to lace Scripture into conversation. After another friend insisted the two go to homecoming together, they figured they might as well... even though homecoming was literally the next day. From this point on, Annabelle and Ryan found shared interests in the gym, school clubs, and an ultimate desire to follow Jesus. The pair began spending more and more time together, and eventually had to confront the fact that though they liked each other, they would be leaving for different colleges next fall. Both realized the bond they had was something special, so they decided to give dating a shot. On December 30, 2021, Ryan asked Annabelle to be his girlfriend, to which she said yes!

After realizing they were inseparable and brought out the best in each other, it was only a matter of time before Ryan popped the question. On January 7, 2025, Ryan had Annabelle's sister ask the two to "test her new camera" at a nearby park. The freshly fallen snow created the perfect backdrop for a winter-wonderland proposal. Ryan had a photographer waiting nearby to capture the much-anticipated and joy-filled moment. He got down on one knee, and she said "yes!" ...and that she saw it coming from a mile away ;)