Our paths first crossed in the hallways of Santa Rosa High School in 2013. We shared mutual friends and knew of one another, completely unaware of the life journey we would embark on together.


Fast forward to January 2020, a friendly message to simply connect over social media quickly turned into a spark of romance. Our relationship was thrown into the trials of the COVID-19 pandemic, although it only further strengthened our bond and reassured the love we shared for one another. We learned that we were not only best friends and partners but - most importantly - soulmates.


The engagement took place on our first trip to Hawaii in January 2022. We were both entranced by the beauty of Kauai and the new adventures we were taking. From snorkeling with a sea turtle to hiking the wonders of the Waimea Canyon, there was an unspoken message that we both knew we wanted to marry. Ian got the ring and proposed on the soft Hawaiian sands, parallel to the sun peeking the horizon on our last morning on Kauai.