We were introduced by my maid of honor at a friend's house party in Fall of 2016, just weeks after Austin had transferred to Clemson. We both left disappointed the other hadn't asked to exchange numbers. Fast forward to that Spring and we have a stats class together, however the timing was off and we remained just friends. Over time, our circles began to further overlap as he moved in with his best man who happened to be my only hometown friend to also attend Clemson. We became study partners as Austin had transferred into the geology program but the timing still was never right. Finally, in 2018, I interviewed Austin for a job at the campus climbing wall. He joined the team and after a full summer of working shifts together, it finally clicked. I like to think God just kept overlapping our circles until we finally got the hint that we were meant for each other. We spent the second year of our relationship long distance as I went to Kansas and Austin finished up at Clemson before he joined me in Kansas for the next two years. Now, we live in Houston pursuing our dream jobs and are loving living life together. -Alex

Who would have thought that after working at the rock wall together we would be getting engaged under one of the most spectacular rock formations, Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. This is thespot where under a starlit sky Alex decided she wanted to be a geologist. Ever since she told me that story, I knew that if I was going to propose to her it had to be there. Unfortunately for me there is no way I could have spontaneously asked her to go to Utah for a weekend without her getting suspicious. Then, we were sitting on the couch one day and out of the blue she said "I miss Utah" and began planning a trip. I knew this was my chance, but I only had a month to plan the proposal and I had no ring and no photographer, but I had a plan. I had daydreamed about this day for so long and had thought through every possible outcome and here was my opportunity! I frantically began calling parents, siblings, photographers, and jewelers. Alex has only ever wanted two things from her proposal. She wanted photographs and she wanted to be surprised, the rest was up to me. I not only wanted to surprise her with the proposal under the arch, but I also wanted to take engagement photos up at the top to really capture the moment in a place we love so much. I got copies of all the makeup that she uses along with her hair products, stick on nails, and two white dresses that I packed up and shipped to the photographer. Of course, I could not have done it without the help of some very special people, my sister Ashley Bruner, Alex’s maid of honor Carly Wright, and her matron of honor Hollis Staub. They helped me think through every single detail to make the day perfect. The morning of the proposal everything was going according to plan except Alex continually telling me that we should ask this photographer, the one that I hired, to take our picture. She didn’t stop their trying to spoil her own proposal! She jokingly asked if I had the ring when we got up to take that photo! Thankfully I kept my composure and said, “you’re hilarious” and proceeded to have an internal panic attack until I was down on one knee. The photographer did an incredible job and perfectly captured all the emotions of the day. We got to spend an amazing morning together laughing and taking pictures. Many of which are shared on this website. All the planning and stress had finally paid off and I could not have asked for a more perfect moment. To my soon to be wife, there is nothing in this world I would not do for you and although I cannot physically move mountains, I can’t wait to travel to the ends of the earth to see them with you. -Austin