After recently settling into my new apartment in Dana Point and living solo for the first time, I set out to get to know my local community. I had been going to Capo Beach Church on and off for about a year and decided to browse their website to see how I could get more involved. I saw that there was an event that upcoming Friday and went to check it out.

As soon as I walked inside, this handsome guy with a beard came up and introduced himself. We chatted for a while until I realized I hadn’t really met anyone else. I excused myself and made my rounds, but all I could think about was how I wanted to get to know him better. Midway through the night, we all sat down to do a Q&A with our pastor. I intentionally chose a seat close to the cutie I met when I first walked in the room.

After our pastor was done talking, I was packing up my things to head out when Zach came up to me again. Just like before, our conversation was so natural. I remember being so impressed with the questions he was asking. There was nothing surface-level about him. He was deep and intentional with his words and I could tell he genuinely wanted to get to know me. We covered more that night than most people do on a first date and the best part was, we had so much in common.

After I left the event, I called my best friend Chelsea and jokingly told her I had either met the guy version of me or a stalker who knew everything about me. We both laughed at the stark contrast between the two scenarios. She told me that if I ended up marrying this guy, she’d be telling this story at my wedding (well, the floor is yours, Chels).

After that night, Zach and I sent text messages to each other that were so long we could’ve made a novel (The Story of Zach & Nicole, coming to a bookstore near you). We shared our hearts in those texts, and I couldn’t wait to see his name pop up on my screen. Two weeks later, he asked me out on our first date (I know. Finally, right?).

It was the best first date I had ever been on. We talked, laughed, ate, drank, and even took a surprise joy ride on Zach’s dad’s boat in the harbor (sorry, Joe!).

That first date was such a telling sign of what our relationship would evolve into over the next year and a half. Zach and I have had one adventure after another. From new jobs, moving, international trips, domestic trips, countless exciting moments, and so much more. I wouldn't take back a single memory with him, and can't wait for so many more.

Exactly one year after Zach asked me to be his girlfriend, he asked me to marry him. He proposed on a suspension bridge overlooking a beautiful river and fall-colored trees in Vancouver, B.C. Everything about it was perfect. Now, I get to spend the rest of my life with the man of my dreams, and I can’t wait to start our lives together as husband and wife.

—N

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