OUR STORY

JOE FORGOT THEY MET & SARAH TRIED TO BAIL

It all began on a crisp November night in 2021. Sarah was in full-on hermit mode, ready for a cozy evening in, but her friend Chris Hodo had other plans. With the determination of a man on a mission, he convinced her to trade her pajamas for a party outfit and head to Poka Lola in downtown Denver to celebrate Rachael Miesen’s birthday. Little did Sarah know, her life was about to take a beautiful turn—complete with tequila, friendship and the love of a lifetime.

Meanwhile, Joe was at Poka Lola, meticulously orchestrating a fun evening for Rachael and a mix of friends and strangers. Sarah reluctantly arrived with Chris, armed with skepticism and a “let’s get this over with” attitude. Chris, being the social butterfly he is, promptly ditched Sarah at the bar. With no familiar faces in sight, Sarah was left to fend for herself—until she met the radiant birthday girl, Rachael, who quickly went from stranger to best friend in record time.

Next up was Tim Russell, a gym partner who introduced Sarah to his friend and idol, Joe Lock. Here’s the kicker: Joe and Sarah had met multiple times before, but Joe had no recollection of any of those encounters. Not. A. Single. One. Naturally, this memory lapse led to some hilarious banter that broke the ice. Over shared rounds of spicy margaritas and Malbecs, they discovered a connection strong enough to swap phone numbers and plan a date just a few days later.

Now, about that first date on December 1st… Sarah, ever the escape artist, had a sneaky plan to cancel at the last minute. But fate (and Joe’s impeccable timing) had other ideas. As Sarah crafted a message full of excuses, Joe texted her from the venue, Misto Oso’s: “I’m here! What can I get you to drink?” Trapped by both proximity (the venue was only a 10-second walk from her apartment) and politeness, Sarah hit delete on her cancellation text and walked over.

What started as a nerve-wracking meetup quickly turned into a magical evening. Within minutes, the jitters gave way to laughter and ease. Somewhere between the coconut rice appetizer and the fourth hour of conversation, they both knew: this wasn’t just a date—it was destiny.

That one evening turned into a consistent cadence of spending time together. From concerts to vacations, late-night heartfelt chats to Sunday brunches & hikes, their bond grew stronger with each shared adventure. Together, they navigated life’s twists and turns—career changes, property purchases, and enough travel to get them to United Gold Status.

Now, they stand on the brink of their greatest adventure yet: saying “I do” and starting a lifetime of love, laughter, and creating memories with their friends and family. Here’s to Sarah and Joe, a love story written by fate and sealed to the beat of another late-night music track that keeps them dancing through life together.

THE PROPOSAL

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON ~ APRIL 19, 2024

In early 2024, after over two years of dating, the “when will Joe propose?” question had become a frequent topic of conversation—and not just between Joe and Sarah. After attending a lot of weddings over the past year, Sarah was starting to wonder when it would be her turn to say “I do.”

Taking the first step toward the big moment, they visited a ring shop in Cherry Creek. Sarah instantly fell in love with the very first ring she tried on. With her preferences clear, Joe left the shop armed with the details he needed to make the most significant purchase of his life.

Enter Larry Blaweiss, jeweler extraordinaire and friend of Joe’s pal Jared. Joe described Sarah’s dream ring, and Larry pulled out the perfect diamond as if it had been waiting for her all along. With a deposit down and time to spare while the ring was crafted, Joe began hatching his ultimate plan.

Joe knew the proposal had to be special, and it had to include one key ingredient: Seattle. Sarah raved about her time there, and her best friend Kayla lived in the city. Conveniently, during one of their late-night music sessions, Sarah mentioned she’d never seen one of her favorite DJs perform live. Joe did some research and discovered the DJ was playing in Seattle in mid-April—a perfect cover story for a surprise trip.

When the ring was ready in March, Joe enlisted his friend Matt Meldrum for moral support. With the ring safely in hand, it was time to orchestrate the surprise, starting with an uncharacteristic move: sneaking into Sarah’s phone to get Kayla’s number while she napped, with a ruse for it ‘being for the greater good.’

With Kayla in on the plan, the two began working out details. Kayla found a picturesque proposal location, Joe booked flights and accommodations, and the cover story solidified: a surprise trip to Seattle for a concert. But there was one major hurdle—Sarah hates surprises.

For weeks, Joe kept the trip’s purpose a secret. On his birthday, April 11th, he finally revealed the destination and the concert, conveniently pretending he had no way to contact Kayla about their visit. Sarah bought it—hook, line, and sinker.

Fast forward to proposal day. The sun shone brightly in Seattle, as if the city itself were in on the plan. Kayla picked them up from the airport, adding another layer of surprise. During lunch, Sarah casually mentioned one of her favorite things about Seattle: being able to wear baggy sweatshirts, no makeup, and Birkenstocks without care. Joe, silently panicking, gave Kayla a look. Kayla, ever the MVP, told Sarah “Sometimes, it’s nice to look nice when you’re going out for the night,” before they left the house, dropping a subtle hint that a sweatshirt and no makeup might not cut it.

Finally, they made their way to the pier, under the guise of dropping off Kayla’s fiancée, Bud, at work. Unbeknownst to Sarah, Kayla’s friend Jeanine had earlier tied a framed photo to the pier that read, “Sarah, will you marry me? Love, Joe.” A photographer was hidden nearby, ready to capture the moment.

As they walked down the pier, Joe pointed to the photo and asked Sarah to check it out. She leaned in to read it, and when she turned around, there was Joe—down on one knee.

Completely shocked, Sarah said yes through happy tears. In his nervousness, Joe slipped the ring onto the wrong hand, but in the grand scheme of things, who cares? It was perfect.

The celebration began immediately, with calls to loved ones. Joe’s parents had no idea the proposal was happening that weekend. When he called to share the news, his mom’s first words were, “How much have you had to drink tonight?” followed by, “Did you at least get her a ring?”—a reaction that’s now a family favorite.

The day, and the weekend, couldn’t have been more magical—a perfect start to their forever.