Our journey began at Osbourn High School, where I first noticed Steph. Although we were aware of each other through school, it was my decision to slide into her DMs that truly sparked our connection. That initial digital outreach set the stage, but we remained friends for a couple of years, letting our relationship naturally evolve.


Our friendship grew through shared experiences. We both took part in a peer mentoring class and volunteered at a local elementary school, where we drove there together every other day. We often found ourselves lingering in the car, chatting before heading into the school, which led our peer mentoring teacher to question our punctuality.


During Steph’s junior year, she worked at a dry cleaners with her best friend, America. I frequently joined them, turning their shifts into fun-filled evenings. America, with her playful nature, even convinced the store owner, Mr. Lee, that I was her cousin—an amusing story (We still dont know if he believed her)


As friends, we loved driving around listening to music, strolling through Old Town, and spending time at the Pavilion, creating many cherished memories along the way.


In July of 2017, our friendship naturally blossomed into something deeper. I asked Steph to be my girlfriend in the basement of our friend Noah Flinchum’s house, marking the beginning of our romantic journey. As our relationship grew, we became close with each other’s families. Steph cleverly used this to her advantage and convinced her parents that I had gifted her a kitten named Kiki while they were away in Mexico. In reality, Steph had fallen in love with Kiki on her own, and I was more than happy to play along.


On December 5, 2023, I planned a romantic proposal at Skyline Drive, one of our favorite spots. With a ring in hand and my heart full of nerves, I stopped at several overlooks, waiting for the perfect moment as the winter sun began to set. We eventually found a serene spot, and as we sat together enjoying the breathtaking view, I began to talk about our future and the life we were building together. In that heartfelt moment, I got down on one knee and proposed. The joy we shared in that perfect moment was overwhelming, marking the beginning of our next chapter together.


I am so excited to share our story and look forward to celebrating our wedding with everyone who has been a part of our journey.


-Andrew Riis