How We Met (Cairn’s POV):
I was off work for the week, casually swiping on Bumble, when this guy’s one-liner made me actually laugh out loud. I couldn’t resist, so I swiped right. From there, it was all silly gifs and my so smooth pickup line about how much I love cheese and how I heard Luna has the best in town. I mean, who doesn’t bond over cheese, right? Little did I know, that swipe would lead me to the love of my life!
How We Met (Kyle’s POV):
Well, I’d like to point out that I swiped right on Cairns’ profile a few times on both Tinder and Bumble before we finally matched. Fast forward to our first date—she showed up 20 minutes late, and I honestly thought she might’ve stood me up. But, she did show up, and now, eight years later, here we are, about to get married. Guess the wait was worth it!
The proposal didn’t exactly go as planned, but honestly, what in life ever does?
The Proposal (Kyle’s POV):
Marriage had been on my mind for quite a while, especially after we bought our first house together. But I knew Cairn didn’t want just any ring. Anyone who knows Cairn knows she likes to be different—she didn’t want a cookie-cutter engagement ring.
A few years ago, Cairn’s mom, Sheryl, gave us her wedding ring—the one she received from Mark—in hopes of nudging me to propose 🤣. For those who don’t know, Mark was Cairn’s dad. He was an avid mountain and ice climber who passed away in 2004 while descending the Matterhorn in Switzerland due to a rockslide.
Fast forward to Christmas week of 2024. Cairn and I were in Pella, Iowa, for the holidays. I didn’t have a ring yet, so I decided to use my “Order of the Engineer” ring as a placeholder since I knew it would fit her finger. However, some unexpected family news came up while we were there, and proposing at the town square didn’t feel right—so I waited.
On our drive back to Fargo, we did our usual end-of-year questionnaire, reflecting on the past year and setting intentions for the next. During that conversation, I shared something that sparked a deeper discussion. What Cairn didn’t know was that I was already planning to propose—the question was coming, but the timing had to be right.
Soon after, Cairn started looking into wedding venues—even though I hadn’t proposed yet. That’s when I realized I had awakened the sleeping dragon. She was full steam ahead on wedding planning without a ring! We toured the Radisson Blu as our first venue and really liked it. Afterward, we had dinner at the Toasted Frog, and that’s when it hit me: I needed to propose soon—the ship was already sailing.
It was January 14th, and not a pleasant day in Fargo—it was -20°F by evening. But I had an idea: propose at the Hjemkomst Center’s Christmas lights. After dinner, we hopped into the Escalade, and I told Cairn I wanted to check out the lights and the outdoor skating rink. When we arrived, the place was completely empty—which made sense, given the temperature. But it was perfect for me, since I get stage fright and freeze up like a deer caught in headlights.
I said, “Hey, let’s go check out that skating rink real quick,” and she begrudgingly agreed. We walked over, admired the lights, and that’s when I got down on one knee and asked Cairn to marry me—using my “Order of the Engineer” ring as a temporary placeholder until we could have her actual ring forged.
The Proposal (Cairn’s POV):
Every year, we do a questionnaire on the drive home after Christmas in Iowa, recapping the year and sharing what we’re most excited about in the year ahead. Well, Kyle decided to kick off 2025 by throwing me into a bit of a tailspin. For those who know me, I’m all about having a plan, and timelines are key. So, when he casually mentioned our future, it hit me like that scene in Friends where Rachel does the math on when she needs to meet her husband… and realizes it’s now.
A few days later, I had to loop Kyle in on what was going on in my head and tell him how much that one comment had stressed me out. He was a good sport and went along with it as I then explained that we’d need to get married in May or June of 2026. For a week, I dragged this poor man around to meet with jewelers and set up venue tours —all while he still hadn’t actually proposed yet.
After we toured the Radisson Blu and had a delicious meal at Toasted Frog, Kyle suggested we head over to the Hjemkomst Center to see the lights. That evening, in -20-degree weather, under the twinkling lights, Kyle got down on one knee and proposed.
Designing Cairn’s Ring: A Family Legacy and Personal Touch
Over the years, family members had mentioned a few ring ideas, but when Cairn’s mom, Sheryl, offered Kyle her wedding set, it was clear it was time to get serious about how to incorporate the pieces. Knowing Cairn’s distinct tastes, Kyle understood she had to be involved in the design process to make the ring truly hers.
After meeting with a jeweler, Cairn decided to use her mom’s engagement diamond, pairing it with a green sapphire that reminded her of Kyle. For her wedding band, she had Grandma Reisch’s band resized.
Big shout-out to Aunt Sharron for helping Cairn’s dad (Mark) pick out the engagement stone in 1990, and to Aunt Debbie for generously offering Grandma Dorothy’s wedding band!
Cairn & Kyle's Wedding 