When is the Wedding?
September 1, 2007
On June 1, 2006, Brandon proposed to Cheryl-Annette atop the breath-taking mountains of Colorado. Now, before you start thinking this was the most romantic situation, this was also day 6 of a backpacking trip. The location was perfect, but we had been in the wilderness with our backpacking crew for a week without showers. For our first dinner as an engaged couple, we had dehydrated beef strogonough and fruit punch. (more...)
The plan began to form about two months before the backpacking trip. Cheryl-Annette and I had been dating for nearly three years, and were both nearing the completion of our graduate degrees. Mountains have been a recuring theme in our relationship, from backpacking in Colorado and New Mexico, to Cheryl-Annette's three summers working atop a peak at the National Solar Observatory, to the several Colorado ski trips. Thus, I figured that the backpacking trip across the scenic Rocky Mountains would provide the ideal time and place to ask the big question. Plus, as my mother later said, if she says, "Yes" after several days in the wilderness without showers and eating dehydrated backpacking food, then she is probably a keeper. (more...).
Several months before our backpacking trip, I started to become suspicious that Brandon might propose sometime in the not so distant future. Our discussions turned more often toward long-term goals and dreams, and periodically he would begin a sentance with, "When we're married...." I kind of figured that was a big clue. (more...).
Brandon met Cheryl-Annette in college. At the time, she was the president of the UNT chess club, and Brandon was leading the Wesley student group. A mutual friend, Sarah, happened to introduce them one evening, and the friendship began. (more...)