Us
It all began with a setup by our good friend Roman, who knew us separately but thought we might be a good match. One cold January morning, we met for a casual coffee at Bayou Bakery… and ended up talking until late afternoon. A few memorable dates followed (ice skating, pizza and jazz, more ice cream than we care to admit, and several rounds of We're Not Really Strangers), and by the time the cherry blossoms began to bloom, so did we.
Our first year was full of adventures—hometown visits, camping trips, spontaneous getaways—and yes, more ice cream. But as the next spring rolled in, so did some storms. We hit pause on our story, leaning heavily on our friends (our unsung heroes) to help us navigate the space in-between.
After some time apart—and a lot of prayer—we found ourselves back at a familiar table, sharing coffee and some honest words. That conversation reopened the door. Slowly, intentionally, we began again. The summer and fall that followed felt like a fresh breeze: full of hope, laughter, and late-night talks about our dreams for the future.
By the time the cherry blossoms returned once more, Zack knew: there was no one else he wanted by his side.
Our path hasn't always been linear, but it's been real, rooted, and full of grace. Like the blossoms that mark each turning point in our story, love came back—soft, strong, and in full bloom.
The Wedding Party
This is Jaylee. We go waaaay back because she's my sister and first ever friend. We used to get into all kinds of trouble (just ask her about the time she put nail polish on my tongue while we were playing doctor). You can count on her to find the best restaurant in any city, host the cutest themed party, and tell you anything you need to know about teeth (she's a dental hygienist). She lives in our hometown of Longview, Washington with two really cute pups and her boyfriend Max.
This is Anna. Our moms met at a garage sale before we were born and quickly decided that their babies would be friends and well, the rest is history. We've been through every big and little moment together, from ghost hunting in old houses to backpacking through the mountains of SaPa, Vietnam. She is the kind of friend who will have you laughing and crying and feeling inspired all in the same conversation. She lives with her wife, Phoebe, in Mt. Vernon, Washington.
This is Abbey. We met through mutual friends and eventually became roommates in Big Blue (IYKYK). We love gabbing by the pool in the summer, and catching up on her couch while Survivor or Sports play in the background. One of my favorite moments together was walking around Lake Como while sharing dreams of our future. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband, Roman (who set Zack and I up!).
This is Abigail. We met at church but really became friends after bonding over our mutual love for the Lumineers and working at coffee shops. Out of the many places we've been together, one of my favorites was a clifside cafe in Tangier where we sipped Morroccan mint tea and talked about our future dreams. She lives in Washington, D.C.
This is Esther. She was my first roommate and built-in friend in D.C. (we literally shared a room). We bonded over long walks and fancy stay-at-home dinners during COVID, and even got to travel to New York, Virginia Beach, and Oklahoma together once the world opened up again. She is the best baker and sweetest dinner party host I know. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband Andrew, and has a sweet lil one year old.
This is Carinna. We met on our first night in college at Azusa Pacific University and decided to live together every year after that. Some of my favorite moments together were driving to the beach after class to catch the sunset, sneaking into Disneyland for free, and watching New Girl on the comfiest couch you can imagine. She lives in Carlsbad, California and just got married to her husband, Bryce, in October.
This is Hayley. We met through our weekly Sunday night dinner club and would often get lunch once a week while she was in school since it was blocks from my office. She's listened to me laugh, cry, and always has something incredibly thoughtful to share. She lives in Arlington, Virgina with her husband Chris and their cute new puppy.
This is Madison. We first met over FaceTime, but then for real when I went home with Zack for Thanksgiving. She lives in Kokomo, Indiana and has a cute pup named Moo.