Our Wedding Day

Our story began in the glow of phone screens and the promise of something new, back before the world stopped spinning. From the start, our conversations flowed effortlessly, laughter came easy, connection felt natural. But timing, as they say, is everything, and we simply weren't ready. We were two people still finding ourselves, not yet prepared for what we could become together. So we parted ways, each continuing our own journey, carrying with us the memory of what might have been.

Then came 2020, and with it, a world transformed. When we found our way back to each other after everything had changed, something profound had shifted within us too. Suddenly, everything clicked into place with a clarity that took our breath away. For our new beginning, we chose Enchanted Rock a fitting backdrop for what felt like magic. We hiked together under the Texas sky, and with every step, every shared laugh echoing off those ancient granite domes, we knew this time was different. Even though miles separated us—me in Austin, her elsewhere—nothing could keep us apart. Every weekend became an adventure: our dogs romping at the dog park, trails conquered hand-in-hand, movie nights that stretched into morning, spontaneous shopping trips, and wobbly attempts at skating that always ended in laughter. We weren't just dating; we were building a life, weekend by precious weekend.

October 2024 found us winding through Colorado's mountain roads, ostensibly visiting family, but really just savoring being together in one of the most beautiful places on earth. I'd been carrying the weight of the ring and the magnitude of the question for the entire trip, waiting for the perfect moment. That moment came on a nine-mile journey to Pancake Rock, our boots crunching through trails painted in autumn's most brilliant palette of golds, crimsons, and oranges that seemed almost unreal in their intensity.

At trail's end, the valley opened before us like an endless sea of aspens and maples ablaze in their fall glory, mountains rising in the distance, the crisp air filled with the kind of silence that makes you feel like the only two people in the world. My heart thundered as I dropped to one knee, every carefully rehearsed word suddenly feeling inadequate for the enormity of what I felt. But when I asked Elizabeth to marry me, with that breathtaking valley as our witness, and she said yes—nothing had ever felt more right. The beauty of Colorado paled in comparison to the joy on her face, and I knew that every step of our winding path had been leading us here.

What an amazing day though those words feel impossibly small for what we experienced. This was the day we'd chosen for our ceremony, an intimate gathering with just our families, the people who had shaped us and loved us into who we'd become. Having everyone there, watching the two families that made us now becoming one, felt like coming home in a way I'd never quite experienced before.

I'd wondered if I'd keep it together, but the moment Elizabeth appeared, I was completely undone. Tears streamed down my face unabashedly—there was no containing the overwhelming wave of love, gratitude, and pure joy. Our vows spilled out, words we'd crafted and polished but that still couldn't fully capture everything in our hearts. Elizabeth was absolutely breathtaking, radiating a beauty that went far beyond what any eyes could see, it was the beauty of this moment, of our love, of everything we were promising each other. After we were pronounced husband and wife, the formality melted away into pure celebration. We lingered together, all of us, soaking in the happiness, sharing stories and laughter, holding onto the magic of the day just a little bit longer.

If the first day was intimacy and tears, the second day was pure, unbridled celebration a party that brought together everyone we love under one roof. Family and friends mingled and laughed, the energy electric with joy as we kicked off an evening that felt more like the world's best party than any traditional reception. We played the shoe game, answering questions about each other while our guests howled with laughter at our responses (and occasional disagreements). The scavenger hunt had people racing around, forming alliances, and getting to know each other in the beautifully chaotic way only wedding games can inspire.

When it came time to cut the cake, we made sure to be gentle with each other—mostly. The t-shirt toss had everyone on their feet, and then came the toasts. Sammy, my brother, and Hudson, Elizabeth's brother, absolutely knocked it out of the park with words that made us laugh and cry in equal measure, capturing our story with a warmth and humor that felt like the best gift they could have given us. Then the dance floor claimed us all, and we moved together through song after song, Elizabeth and I stealing moments in the center of the chaos, lost in each other while surrounded by love. The next morning, still riding the high of it all, we returned to where it all began at Enchanted Rock. We hiked those familiar trails as husband and wife, then retreated to the most charming Hobbit House for our first night of married life, tucked away in our own little fairy tale.