The first time Avery set eyes on James, he was getting his head shaved...into a mohawk. If you had told her in that moment that this eccentrically-styled guy would be the man she would marry, she would have been dubious at best. Yet, here they are! James and Avery were both spending the summer of 2016 in Charlottesville when they met each other through mutual friends—one of whom operated the buzzer that shaved James’ head the day before he left for a military training. During the fall of their third year at UVA, the seeds of love were sowed: Avery and James started inviting each other to date parties, going to spontaneous Wednesday-night concerts in DC, and getting to know one another over breakfast at Bodo’s Bagels and some of Charlottesville's finest diners and cafes. The semester ended in a flash, and James planned to fly out of Dulles International to visit his family in Africa for the holidays. Avery invited James to spend the night before the flight at her parents’ house nearby so she could drive him to the airport in the morning, and she briefly mentioned that her parents were hosting a gathering that evening. However, she skimmed over the fact that this was Mark and Malinda’s 60th birthday party, and attendees would include over 100 of their closest friends, neighbors, and family members. When they walked into the party, the young pair hadn’t yet put a label on their relationship. After spending the entire night attempting to tactfully dodge the question, "So Avery, is this your boyfriend...?!", the pair decided that yes, they were in fact boyfriend and girlfriend, and they haven't looked back since. The last six and half years have brought much growth for Avery and James, both individually and as a couple, as they've navigated long-distance & multiple moves, figured out how to balance their respective military and civilian career paths, and cemented the foundation for the life they are building together. Moral of the story: If you’re looking for love, start with a mohawk.

When Avery and James moved to Utah, they sought out the state’s most treasured views by skiing, hiking, and camping almost every weekend. At each peak, waterfall, or river, Avery would subtly express her appreciation for the surrounding natural beauty: “Wow, this would be a great place to get engaged!” Hint taken… After Avery and James travelled far and wide to a slew of state and national parks during the summer of 2022 (and Avery optimistically prepared for each trip with a manicure), the couple decided to squeeze in one last hike in Salt Lake City’s Big Cottonwood Canyon before the snow began to fall in October. At the beginning of the hike through the stunning golden Aspen trees, Avery began to wonder "what if...." but pushed the thought from her mind and focused on enjoying the gorgeous autumn evening. After all, if James didn’t drop to one knee at the top of Angel’s Landing at Zion National Park, why would he do it on their local mountain? When they reach the summit, Avery’s suspicions raised when she noticed a man with a large camera taking pictures of the scenery. Nevertheless, James caught her very much by surprise when he knelt down to pop the question, and then the two floated off into the sunset (read: they stumbled down the mountain with tears rolling down their faces while making small talk with the photographer).