Hunter and Melanie first met on St. Patrick’s Day in 2018 at Old Dominion University. Both had transferred from different colleges and happened to meet at their local bar, where their story first began. Exactly who talked to whom first is still a disagreement they have yet to settle, but one thing is certain: that night would eventually lead them to each other.

Although they spent plenty of time together in those early days, the two didn’t officially start dating until they reconnected after college in 2021. Their first date was at Cooper’s Hawk in Virginia Beach, and from there, they quickly became inseparable. They spent every moment they could together, making up for lost time before life once again took them in different directions.

Melanie moved to Nashville to attend physical therapy school, while Hunter moved to Boulder for a new job opportunity. What followed was more than four years of long-distance, countless flights back and forth, and a whole lot of miles between them. Through it all, they continued choosing each other and building a relationship that only grew stronger with every trip, phone call, and reunion.

After four years of navigating long distance, they finally found their way to the same place and decided to make Colorado home. Together, they began building a life in the mountains, with their dog, Shadow, by their side and plenty of adventures still to come.

On June 12, 2026, Hunter popped the question in the beautiful mountains of Crested Butte, marking the beginning of their favorite chapter yet.

Through the highs, the lows, the miles, and everything in between, so many people have played an integral part in our story. We are incredibly grateful for everyone who has loved, supported, and been a part of our journey, and we can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter with all of you. It is not lost on us the time, travel, and effort so many of you are making to be there with us. We feel incredibly lucky to have the people we love most come together in a place that has become so special to us, and we hope you get to experience and love the mountains as much as we do.