It was late May 2022, both of us were ready to start a serious relationship but no one around seemed to be the right fit and it was getting more difficult to find someone the traditional way. So what better way to meet someone in 2022 then to download a dating app (shout out to Bumble).

Ethan had gone on a few dates with little luck so he extended his search to further away from his hometown. I had more luck, as I matched with Ethan within a few short hours of downloading the app. Within the week Ethan decided to ask me out on a date (over Snapchat because “Asking for a number would have been too forward”).

With Ethan traveling an hour to see me after work we found that DC Oaks was the only place open late enough to meet. Lucky for us we hit it off immediately. There was never a moment that felt awkward and never a moment when we stopped talking. We quickly found we shared many of the same values including our relationship with the Lord, big families, loving to laugh, sarcasm and board games. We talked for hours and might have upset the waitress because we stayed talking and laughing in the restaurant until closing time. After shutting down the restaurant we didn’t want to end the date and wanted to continue talking. With no where else to go we decided to go back to my townhouse and continue our conversation (my roommates were home so I knew he wouldn’t murder me, too many witnesses). We talked for a few more hours until it was very late and Ethan needed to head back up the mountain to Estes.

Ethan and I continued to talk, and go on dates, waiting for the moment we would run out of things to talk about or for things to get awkward but that moment never came. We decided pretty early on we would not start officially dating until we had met each others families, as family is extremely important to both of us and I needed to know he could handle the Santini’s. I met his family (mom, dad, and 6 siblings) at his brothers birthday party up in Estes. His Family was very welcoming and I felt right at home sitting around a large table with everyone eating and 5 different conversations happening at once, only to pause one conversation to interject into someone else's. Ethan met my family in true Santini glory (loud, proud and a little obnoxious ) we were sitting at my house having dinner when my mom and three of my siblings came in through the door practically yelling after a late night McDonalds run (one sibling didn't have a shirt or shoes on…guess who). Ethan didn't blink and eye and fit right in.

We started dating shortly after and quickly came to the realization we had found our person and wanted to spend our lives together. In fact Ethan told one of his good friends that I was ‘the one’ within a few months of us dating. Over the past year and a half we have grown stronger together and it has been made clear we are meant to be with each other. On December 22, 2023 Ethan surprised me with a proposal at the top of Pole Hill in Estes Park surrounded by family.

We are so excited to celebrate this moment with you all and cant wait to see what the future holds!

Taylor and Ethan

T&E