Ryan went to Washougal High School with a group of his life-long friends. When Ryan graduated, he joined the U.S. Air Force, and eventually started a two-year assignment in Japan. Hannah graduated from Aloha High School and attended Oregon State University, where she met one of her best friends, Maggie (Maid of Honor). Maggie and her boyfriend, Kade (Groomsman), were good friends of Ryan’s from WHS.

While Ryan was in Japan and Hannah was in college, Ryan saw that Maggie had posted a picture with Hannah on Instagram. Ryan instantly thought Hannah was beautiful and wanted to send her a message! On April 25th, 2021, Hannah received a message from Ryan, introducing himself. After exchanging a few messages, they were both excited to get to know each other!

After a few FaceTime calls, and texting back and forth for a month, Ryan asked Hannah if he could visit her at school in Corvallis. Once Ryan got home from his assignment in Japan, Ryan and Hannah went on their first group date with their friends. Hannah and Ryan were both feeling a lot of nerves, but they clicked instantly!

After a few weeks of spending time together, Ryan and Hannah decided to make their relationship official! Hannah knew Ryan was preparing to move to England for the next two years, but both of them had a feeling they had found “the one”! Two short weeks later, Ryan left for his assignment in England, and their long-distance relationship began.

Over the next two years of their relationship, Hannah and Ryan scheduled many FaceTime calls around their eight hour time difference. They also visited each other every 6 months. Hannah traveled to England twice, and Ryan came home for Christmas each year. It was difficult for the couple to spend that much time apart, but both of them knew it would only strengthen their relationship further.

After two long years, Ryan finally arrived back to the U.S. with plans for his next assignment in New Mexico. Hannah agreed to move to NM with him! After spending time with family and friends, the couple packed up Hannah’s apartment, and started their 4-day road trip to Clovis, NM. Long distance was over, and the couple was so excited to begin their lives together. Now, they only have a one minute drive between them!

While Ryan and Hannah were home for the holidays, Ryan snuck away to meet her parents for coffee. He then asked Mike and Julie for Hannah’s hand in marriage. They said yes!

The couple wanted to get out of NM and take a weekend trip, so they planned a roadtrip to Dallas, TX. What Hannah didn’t know is that her parents and Ryan's parents were flying into Dallas for a surprise engagement! On that Saturday afternoon, Ryan got down on one knee at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, and asked Hannah to marry him! When Hannah turned around, she saw her parents and Ryan’s parents standing there! Together the six of them spent the rest of the weekend celebrating the newly engaged couple!