Ryan & Stephanie

Our Story

We met at Chapman University, our very first day on campus. It was orientation week, and there was a house meeting for our dorm building. I spotted him from across a crowded room, and it truly was love at first sight. We were immediate best friends, and in helping each other get over harsh breakups and adjust to college life, a funny thing happened. We fell in love. The years together since then have been one adventure after another; living together in the dorms, the trials of seperation as I studied abroad, moving into our apartment, breaking up only to rediscover our love, moving to Los Angeles, and starting our lives together. Our path has taken us to many strange and wonderful places, from stone circles in the heart of England to the tops of mountains and depths of caves echoing with sea lion song. We’ve held hands while jumping off cliffs and discovered hidden meadows never visited by man. We’ve watched each other grow and change, and shared moments of the greatest joy and the deepest sorrow. Through all of it, we have come out stronger and more in love, and look forward to a future filled with love

The Proposal...

The Proposal...

This year, our travels took us to Black Rock City, NV for the week-long Burning Man festival. Our last night on the Playa, after the most amazing week of our lives, Ryan and I stood together watching the Man burn. There, as the glowing embers fell around us, he pulled me away from the crowd and slipped a small, white gold ring on my finger. The flawless ruby set between two diamonds sparkled in the firelight as he asked me words i've waited five years to hear. "Will you marry me?"

Shock, awe, joy, giddy laughter, and more than a few tears accompanied the walk back to our camp. I'm still in awe, and can't help occasionally giggling and bouncing a bit when I look at the shiny ring on my finger. And not because of the ring. Because of what it means. We're getting married! It seems too good to be true.