We're getting married!

It all started at a New Year’s Eve party, where resolutions were being made and champagne was flowing. Amidst the festivities, Ryan’s mom, Kim, leaned over to her friend Laura and declared, “I just want Ryan to meet a nice, Christian girl.” Laura’s eyes lit up, and with a mischievous grin, she replied, “I have one!” You see, Laura has been on the lookout for eligible bachelors for (Bride) Kim for years. She’s known Kim since her daughter, Amanda, and Kim became fast friends in high school. Within minutes, the two moms exchanged numbers like secret agents on a mission. Little did they know that their matchmaking scheme was about to spark something big! The very next day, Ryan texted Kim, curious but also skeptical. Kim, though, took her time responding, and when she finally did, they set a date for Thursday. Then, just as Ryan thought things were moving forward, Kim had to reschedule after catching a cold. “She’s definitely blowing me off,” Ryan thought, resigned to the idea that maybe this wasn’t meant to be. But fate, as it turns out, had other plans. That Sunday evening, they finally met at Stone Brewery. What was just going to be a casual drink turned into a three-hour conversation — complete with laughter, surprising chemistry, and a connection neither of them could have anticipated! By the end of the night, there was no doubt—they had found something special, something neither had expected.

On July 26, Ryan had planned a double date with Kim and their friends, Sean and Kimmi, at the Draft Republic. After work, Kim headed over to Ryan’s house to hang out with him and the kids. They watched Trolls together, though Kim noticed Ryan kept leaving the room. Toward the end of the movie, Kim’s friend Angela called her—not totally unusual, as they talk multiple times a week. When Kim picked up, all she heard was background noise, like people chatting in a lively place. Curious, she checked Find My Friends and noticed Angela was at the same place they were headed for dinner. Then, Kim noticed Ryan’s sister-in-law Rachel was also there. “Ryan, this is weird—Angela and Rachel are both at Draft Republic” she said. Before she was able to put the pieces together, Ryan jumped into action and said, “I guess we’re doing this here!” With the kids gathered around, he got down on one knee and asked, “Will you marry me?” Surprised and thrilled, Kim jumped up and said, “Is this for real?! Yes!” Ryan then shared another surprise—more friends and family were waiting at the restaurant to celebrate. On the way, Quinn requested Taylor Swift’s Love Story to be played on repeat. When they arrived, Kim was overjoyed to see her close friends and family, along with Ryan’s loved ones, ready to celebrate their engagement. The proposal was perfect, and they couldn’t imagine it any other way.