Mike: Knowing that I was going to be popping the question soon my father and I snuck out one afternoon while we were in Buffalo to go see “His Guy.” If you know my dad, if you need something, he’s got a guy. But man did his guy come through! Once I had the hardware I needed to come up with the perfect plan.

Jess and I’s love language is time spent together so I wanted it to be just the two of us (and Boomer of course). So, I found this cool cabin in the woods and a hike that we would be able to take with the perfect view where I could propose.

Day of we head out for Shenandoah National Park, I had the ring stowed away in my backpack and we took off. We got to the base of our hike and it was foggy and rainy, not ideal but we started the climb. Disclaimer: I have been talking about this hike like it was a great feat... it was about a mile up a very groomed path. Regardless, we made our way up this path, a short hike, but it was straight up, I sweat my a** off all the way to the top.

As we arrived to what we believed was the summit, the place I am supposed to ask this big question, there is a group of 40 individuals all belonging to the Saturday hiking club having a picnic at the top. In my mind I thought, “I cannot do this here in front of all these people, this is not how envisioned this.” Luckily about 50 yards away was the true summit, this perfect brick crows’ nest. Jess ran ahead and I knew that it was the moment... just us at the peak of this mountain. We were literally in the clouds on this cloudy day, but it couldn’t have been more perfect. I walked up behind, got down on one knee and asked her to spend the rest of her life with me....

Jess: It was the MOST perfect day and will forever be one of my all-time favorite memories. He executed the plan flawlessly. If you know Mikey, he is a planner... While I am pretty sure we both blacked out from excitement at the top of this mountain, I knew that my forever started right then and there.