Get your passports ready!

Michael started working at YMCA Camp Surf in 2011. Little did he know the love of his life would join him seven years later in 2018. What started as a friendship, slowly but surely turned into a "can't be without you" love. Ali and Mike fell in love swimming, exploring, and laughing together.

Mike and Ali returned to one of their favorite mountain towns, Idyllwild, where they spent their first time camping together (and where Mike once forgot his sleeping bag, and Ali refrained from murdering him in his sleep). Ali had a strong feeling that Mike was going to propose, but wasn't expecting it at all when they went to watch the sunset on their very first night. They huddled together surrounded by pines on a breezy night in December, and once the sun went down Mike asked her to go to a quiet spot out of view from anyone else. Here, he told her that he didn't want to spend another sunset or sunrise without her as his fiancee. He got down on one knee, opened the box, and the ring was upside down! Ali laughed and flipped it right side up, of course saying yes a million times over. They drove down into the Christmas light strung town where they celebrated with their favorite things- wine, music, and each other. Now, Christmas time will always remind them of the love they share.