Rachael
and
Rande
Please join us for our wedding celebration on
Our Story
Rachael and Rande met in June 2021 on a climbing trip in Wyoming. The world had just started to open up again after the pandemic, and it was the first real trip either of them had taken since. They were introduced through Rachael's climbing partner Dan, and Rande's best friend since middle school, Spencer. Though Rande says that Rachael was flirting with him that week, Rachael maintains that she definitely was not. However, Rande did impress Rachael with his patience, teaching abilities, and the way he politely asked if it would make her feel more safe to put his hand on her back when she had a panic attack at the very beginning of her first-ever multi pitch climb.
Coincidentally, Rachael had already planned to visit Colorado two weeks after their climbing trip to see her brother, sister-in-law, and nephew who lived ten minutes away from Rande. Though unplanned, they ended up spending the whole week together - night climbing with Rande's friends and Rachael's cousin Caitlyn, and spending a weekend camping in the mountains. By the end of that first weekend, they both knew that they had a connection.
After that, Rande and Rachael went on three dates in four days to complete the week. On their first date, Rande agreed to go on a 21-day trip to Peru with Rachael to climb, explore, and hike the Huayhuash - a remote 8-day backpacking trip. On their second date, Rachael took Rande to get his wisdom teeth pulled and iced his cheeks while he was drowsy from the drugs and anesthesia, promising not to coax any information out of him, but also telling him that it wasn't her fault if he started sharing. On their third date, Rande took Rachael to Saint Mary's Glacier (where they later got engaged) and convinced Rachael to jump off a 40-foot cliff into a freezing cold glacial lake (where they both damaged their ear drums and couldn't hear properly for a week). By the end of week, when Rachael went back home to DC, it was no secret that they were both smitten with each other.
After a year and a half of long distance dating, and many, many flights, Rachael moved to Colorado with her dog, Maya, to live with Rande and his dog, Rue - and the rest, as they say, is history.
In December 2023, Rande brought Rachael back up to Saint Mary's Glacier for a hike with their good friends, Heather and Travis (and of course Maya and Rue), and surprised Rachael by proposing on that same (now frozen) glacial lake.
They're so excited to start the next phase of their lives together and can't wait to celebrate with you in July!
Coincidentally, Rachael had already planned to visit Colorado two weeks after their climbing trip to see her brother, sister-in-law, and nephew who lived ten minutes away from Rande. Though unplanned, they ended up spending the whole week together - night climbing with Rande's friends and Rachael's cousin Caitlyn, and spending a weekend camping in the mountains. By the end of that first weekend, they both knew that they had a connection.
After that, Rande and Rachael went on three dates in four days to complete the week. On their first date, Rande agreed to go on a 21-day trip to Peru with Rachael to climb, explore, and hike the Huayhuash - a remote 8-day backpacking trip. On their second date, Rachael took Rande to get his wisdom teeth pulled and iced his cheeks while he was drowsy from the drugs and anesthesia, promising not to coax any information out of him, but also telling him that it wasn't her fault if he started sharing. On their third date, Rande took Rachael to Saint Mary's Glacier (where they later got engaged) and convinced Rachael to jump off a 40-foot cliff into a freezing cold glacial lake (where they both damaged their ear drums and couldn't hear properly for a week). By the end of week, when Rachael went back home to DC, it was no secret that they were both smitten with each other.
After a year and a half of long distance dating, and many, many flights, Rachael moved to Colorado with her dog, Maya, to live with Rande and his dog, Rue - and the rest, as they say, is history.
In December 2023, Rande brought Rachael back up to Saint Mary's Glacier for a hike with their good friends, Heather and Travis (and of course Maya and Rue), and surprised Rachael by proposing on that same (now frozen) glacial lake.
They're so excited to start the next phase of their lives together and can't wait to celebrate with you in July!