Well, technically they already knew each other - Connor went to Arcadia High School and Jess went to Xavier College Prep. Their connection? Pat Schrimsher, Jess's cousin and Connor's best friend and football teammate growing up. Pat was wise to keep Jess away from all of his football-playing friends throughout high school, but that only lasted 13 years until Jess and Connor were both at Pat's 28th surprise birthday party in 2019. It was reported that Jess mentioned to a few family members in attendance that "Connor was hilarious." Jess left early to get home before a track meet the next day but woke up to a text from Connor asking if he could take her out to dinner the following Thursday. He picked her up and they went to Buck & Rider for a three-hour date where Connor proceeded to order the seafood tower. He claims this is what sealed the deal, but in reality it was his 2000 Land Cruiser.

Four months into COVID, Jess and Connor planned a long 4th of July weekend trip to Coronado Island with the McClain family. In true COVID and work from home fashion, this turned into a three-week trip up to Tahoe to hang with the Tonn family. Jess saw this as a great opportunity to work lakeside, get in many trail miles, and spend un-masked time on the water. Connor, on the other hand, saw this as the perfect time to pop the question. The problem? He didn't have the ring yet. He worked with his mom's close friend, Mimi, to get the perfect diamond and get everyone on board for a surprise Lake Tahoe proposal, and boy did he pull it off. The Tonns (Scott, Tracy, Blake & Caroline) were there and the McClain family (Kathleen, Steve, and Kate) flew in the day before. It all went down at the Schuman family's lakefront home (one of Jess's favorite spots on the lake). Thank you to Ted & Jocelyn for lending their home to help make a memory that will last a lifetime. It was perfect and everyone celebrated by having many a Wet Woody from Garwoods on the lake and spent the next day on the water together. We can't wait to celebrate with all of you in November!

“A good marriage is one where each partner secretly suspects they got the better deal.” - anonymous