It’s a Love Story, Baby Just Say, Yes!

Like the start of every love story in the 21st century, we met online; Facebook date to be specific. Who know such a thing even existed?! Move over Tinder! Ironically, we were both on Facebook date "just to look" and neither of us expected to find anything serious. It's still funny to me that the GIF of a seal with the word "hiiiii" was what would catch her attention. We connected instantly and after a few (long) weeks of texts, calls and snapchats, we finally met in person. A couple of matching tattoos, a sectional and a U-Haul later, the rest is history.

May 14, 2021 - Orlando, FL It was our first vacation together and Kristyn's first time at Disney World, so I knew I had to make it special. We started the day at Magic Kingdom and ended at Epcot. We attempted to eat and drink "Around the World" (but failed). Once we got to Italy, the sun had started to set and I knew this was it. Kristyn had always talked about wanting to visit Italy, and I guess this was the next best thing? We set the phone up to take pictures, like we had done all day, and after a few pictures and getting the courage to finally pop the question, I "adjusted the camera" but really just set it to "record." All I remember saying, was "You're my home and my adventure all at once" (stolen from a sign in our living room) and then her full name, "Kristyn Rose Shocklee, will you marry me?" Thankfully she said yes because I had t-shirts and masks (thank you Covid) ready that said "She said yes" and "Engaged!" In her words, the day was "truly a fairytale."

August 24, 2021 - Las Vegas, NV Our second trip together! Jenn took me to her "happiest place on Earth" and now it was my turn. As we were recently engaged, we thought it would be cool to have engagement pictures taken in Vegas, so we set up an engagement session with a local photographer. Little did Jenn know, I had reached back out to the photographer privately to tell him that I had planned on proposing to HER during this photoshoot. We worked out the details through countless emails, as a phone call would have given away the surprise, and we decided on a "key phrase" where I'd have my big moment. That key phrase: "Kristyn, I'm going to have you stand behind Jenniffer and whisper in her ear, what you like on your burger." (His idea, not mine, lol) I felt like time stood still at this point and if I'm being honest, I have no clue what I said to her, but I do remember her face as I was down on my knee, looking up at her; and I'm assuming she said yes because we're kind of planning a wedding now.