FIRST DATE

January 28, 2018 at Aroma's in Williamsburg, VA

ENGAGEMENT

July 27, 2023 in Iceland

Noah:

The long road to Selkot, my family’s farm in Iceland, was bordered on one side by the vast Atlantic and on the other by the rocky, near-alien landscape; inside, I sat nervously running through what I would say to her. It seemed impossible to sum up our love in a mere minute-long speech before asking the most important question of my life, but that didn’t matter – it was a question that my heart and soul could go no longer without asking.

I made my way up the mountain with bated breath, my love a step in front of me in a beautiful, flowing dress (perhaps not the best for hiking – a minor oversight).

My plan was simple – I suggested we take nice photos of each other, and told her to face away from me, towards the horizon, as I dropped to a knee. And it was there that I waited … and waited … and waited, for what felt like an eternity but must have been only a minute, for her to turn around. I’ll never forget the look in her eyes as she turned around – a beautiful, excited gleam of surprise that I knew I could only capture once.

And so began the rest of our lives.

Billie:

A hike up a steep, grassy, windy Icelandic mountain in a dress, what was I thinking even with the premise of taking photos? The beautiful countryside views and spending time with the love of my life brought back memories of the first time Noah and I travelled alone to Iceland and stayed with different members of his family. We spent many days sitting atop the steep hill adorning Selkot, his family’s farm. We had talks about love, life, dreams, and everything else under the sun (which doesn’t set in the summer!). Those beautiful, secure feelings stayed with me long after we got back to the States.

Being back in Selkot four years later, having established our own little family of two cats and a bunny, resurfaced those feelings stronger and more confident than ever.

Noah seemed quiet on the two hour drive to the farm - I figured we were both just tired from exploring Reykjavik the day prior, but looking back I can’t help but appreciate how nervous he must have been.

I took photos of him first, the wind blowing his hair back and the sunlight highlighting the most beautiful parts of his eyes - perfect, just like him. I took various photos of him standing against a run-down brick silo and then he took the camera and asked me to face toward the horizon. It seemed he was taking forever just to snap a few photos so I asked: ”Can I turn around yet?”

“If you want to,” the sweetest voice.

When I swung back around, there he was: down on one knee, hands shaking while holding the leather ring box that once belonged to my grandmother. I could tell he had so much more to say, but between the nerves and the excitement, it all blended into the background. There was only him.

“Billie Jade, will you marry me?”

“Of course.” This was the easiest question I have ever been asked.

Through tears and hugs, we sat alone with the gentle breeze and the swaying grass, basking in the glow of the light we’d nurtured together. That moment could have lasted forever.

But there were many more memories to be made and celebratory champagne to be had - so we hiked back down the mountain to begin the rest of our lives together, and have never once looked back.