We met for coffee at Cafe La Jefa in Palm Springs, CA on Dec 11, 2021. What started as a quick morning coffee became a relationship that would last a lifetime. We talked for hours at the cafe and even started planning little adventures. From the Living Desert Zoo to the Joshua Tree National Park, those little adventures soon added up and would turn into an adventure of love.

As with many things that happened in 2023, the engagement was something that lined up perfectly in both of our lives. Stephen was leaving the military and wanted to show his parents around California. One of Hollie's dreams was to have a proposal that included both sides of the family. This was the perfect time to plan the proposal. Stephen reached out to Hollie's parents to coordinate a lunch to meet with Stephen's parents. The lunch would take place at Laguna Beach in a restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean. After lunch, our families walked along the shore, with a gold sun kissing the horizon, our parents slowly dropped back, allowing us to walk hand-in-hand. That's when Stephen, very suddenly, dropped to one knee and asked the question. Our parents were so caught up in their conversation that they nearly missed the big moment. We're so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you.