Steph & Don met in May of 2019 in Flagstaff, Arizona at the Flagstaff Climbing Gym! Steph was climbing with a mutual friend of theirs, and Don decided to come over and ask this friend if he could climb with them for the afternoon. After climbing, Don decided to ask Steph for her number and asked her to come climbing with him again later that evening. After that first day full of climbing and getting to know one another, they both knew a connection was there.

They would spend the next few months of summer climbing, swimming in the creek, and enjoying nights out on the town; and in August of 2019, Don & Steph decided they wanted to continue this journey together and make things official!

Flash forward to March of 2020, COVID-19 hit and Don & Steph decided to move in together. They would spend the next two years living in Flagstaff, AZ and every chance they got they went skiing, cliff jumping, rock climbing, camping and anything else to get them outside. In March of 2022, they decided it was time for a change so they moved to Don’s home state of Colorado!

Their first summer in Colorado was everything they hoped it would be. They were able to spend even more time in the outdoors, while Steph began her hunt for a new career path and Don began to grow his career in the golf industry. This new career path for Don led him & Steph on a new adventure of living and working in Avon, CO during the summers & Palm Desert, CA during the winters! They spent the last 2 years moving back and forth and this summer they have decided it was time to settle back in Colorado.

Over these last 5 years, Don & Steph have fallen more in love with each other than either of them thought was possible. They have created a beautiful life full of adventure, laughter, excitement and love; and they both knew their time was coming to take their next step.

So, on September 7th, 2024, Don & Steph hiked to their favorite high alpine lake for the first time all summer; Beaver Lake. Once they arrived, they admired the beauty of the lake so early in the morning and took in the fact that it was just the two of them at their favorite spot. Just before Don began to fish, he sat his rod down, got down on one knee and asked Steph if she would spend the rest of her life with him. And of course, Steph said yes!

Little did she know, they were not the only two at the lake that morning… One of Don’s dearests friends, Burke, was hiding in the trees and caught this beautiful moment on camera! (A HUGE thanks to Burke for hiking up an hour ahead to capture these beautiful engagement photos, he killed it!)

Don & Steph are stepping into a wonderful new season of life come the Fall of 2025 and they are excited to celebrate their big day with their friends and family.