Our first date wasn’t fancy. It was a trip to Home Depot to buy a lightbulb, followed by tacos at Ashley’s favorite spot, Taqueria La Vaquita. Brett was recovering from Covid at the time, which meant he couldn’t taste a thing, so the tacos were objectively great and personally disappointing. Still, it somehow felt right.

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From there, things escalated quickly. A rooftop party in Times Square to watch the ball drop for New Year’s 2022. Countless trips across the US and beyond. An unforgettable journey through India (huge thanks to Jenny and Mark for hosting us). Turning work trips into real adventures whenever possible. Yes, that includes a Sacramento conference that somehow turned into a chaotic rental car drive up to Lake Tahoe.

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Travel has always been a centerpiece of our relationship. Not to show off where we’ve been, but because every experience has pulled us closer together. Seeing new places, navigating unfamiliar situations, and sharing those moments has shaped how we see the world and each other. It’s made us deeply grateful for what we have and for getting to wake up next to one another every single day. It’s strengthened our bond in ways we didn’t expect.

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Brett bought the ring in 2022, knowing he wanted the proposal to happen on a special trip. He carried it on several trips, each time saying, “the next one will be the right one.” Eventually, that trip turned out to be Iceland.

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We were driving Iceland’s Ring Road, Route 1, on an unusually warm, sunny day, completely off the beaten path near the Fosshóll waterfall. This time, we were alone. No crowds. Just the sound of water crashing into the rocks below us. Brett, who is not a photographer by any stretch, suddenly became very interested in Ashley flying her drone for a shot. She was confused by his sudden enthusiasm, but went along with it.

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As the drone lifted above us, Ashley turned around and Brett was on one knee.

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It was quiet. It was simple. It was perfect.