McKenna + Scott D E C E M B E R F I F T H • two thousand and twenty
2
•
t h e m o n tgo me r y s
ME ET T H E CO U PL E
McKenna Elyce Drew B I RT H DAY May 19
HOMETOWN Cedar City, Utah
E D U C AT I O N Utah State University
O C C U PAT I O N Landscape Architect
FAVO R I T E M OV I E Better Off Dead or Mamma Mia 2 (depends on the mood)
FAVO R I T E M U S I C I A N ELO or Leon
CELEBRITY CRUSH Shrek
DREAM CAR 2003 Honda Accord Gold
D R E A M VA C AT I O N Anywhere with Scott — also Japan
3
Kyle Scott Montgomery B I RT H DAY August 4
HOMETOWN Palm Springs, California
E D U C AT I O N University of California — Riverside
O C C U PAT I O N Fourth Grade Teacher
FAVO R I T E M OV I E Time Machine
FAVO R I T E M U S I C I A N Family + Friends
CELEBRITY CRUSH Steve Carell
DREAM CAR Bus
D R E A M VA C AT I O N Wherever McKenna goes
4
•
t h e m o n tgo me r y s
5
How We Met On a family trip, McKenna was with her family visiting Disneyland for Christmas. While in California she joined Mutual (an online dating app) so that she could look at some California options. She swiped up on Scott, and was shocked when she matched with such a cute guy. They began talking a little bit while McKenna drove back to Utah with her family. McKenna apologized to Scott for giving the appearance that she lived in California, and said that most likely a relationship wouldn’t go anywhere. But Scott said that he would be out in Utah in January and he wanted McKenna to show him the sights. McKenna asked for his phone number, and later messaged him about what sights he wanted to see while he was in Salt Lake. In January, they went on their first date. Right before the date, McKenna realized she lost her wallet. She didn’t want to assume that Scott was going to be paying for the first date, so before they met, she called him asking if she could pay him back. She was super nervous calling a complete stranger right before a date and trying to explain that she lost her wallet. But still, Scott was a complete gentleman, and said that he was planning on paying all along, so it was no problem, and realized nine months later, that losing things is just her style. Their first date was at Punch Bowl Social (a restaurant in Salt Lake City). McKenna’s first impression of Scott was that he was really nice, had a really great smile, and great style. She was impressed on how great he was at listening, and asking her questions the entire date. He was also really fun to be around, and REALLY bad at darts and Clue (the board game). She also noticed that he had to use the bathroom a lot. Scott’s first impression of McKenna was seeing her in the reflection of the door window while entering Punch Bowl Social for their first date and thought, “Crap, she is really hot,” and all of the confidence he had two seconds prior went away. He was so nervous the entire date, that to this day, he is still surprised that McKenna thought he was so great at conversation. Because he felt like he was stumbling over his words, not keeping track of what he was talking about, and being way too obnoxious. He even kept going to the bathroom every twenty minutes to give himself a pep talk in the bathroom mirror. They played darts and Clue, which is really hard to play with just two people actually. When the date was over, they walked out to their car and Scott asked McKenna how he did. She said that she had a lot of fun so he followed up with, “Does that mean I get a second date?” The rest is history from there.
6
•
t h e m o n tgo me r y s
The Proposal AS TOLD BY THE GROOM I knew I wanted this, so I started planning. I had this intrinsic and strategic plan for the proposal. All fell apart when my sister told me she would be in Mesquite, Nevada the weekend of the scheduled proposal. I scrapped the plans and started over. With such an important moment about to happen, I knew I wanted my family there, my family, and my new family The new plan was to visit her family in Cedar City for her nephew’s birthday. My sister was in Mesquite for my niece’s birthday at her Grandma’s house. After my niece’s party, we got back to McKenna’s family’s home. I rushed inside and told her I needed to get ready because I was going to play video games with my soon to be, brotherin-law, Robert, at his office. After that, we would be having an ice cream date, which was generously provided by my mom. Right after I left to play video games, Robert walked in. McKenna saw him, approached, and said; “Aren’t you supposed to be playing video games with Scott.” He immediately said something like, “oh yeah, I’m going to meet him right now.” McKenna became suspicious and texted that Robert was at the house. I told her it was okay, and that I had to print something, and her dad offered to print it at his work. Some things were actually true. I WAS at her dad’s office! I was printing a game I made for the proposal! I was printing photos of places that McKenna and I went to during our courtship. My plan was to have her guess the place and memory. I texted McKenna the address of the ice cream place and set off to find the perfect proposal location at Cedar Breaks, a place we had stopped on the way to her family reunion in July. I started setting up and my family arrived... All together! They happily helped me set up. All of a sudden, a gold Accord shines in the sunlight, screeching into the parking lot. It’s McKenna! I yell at my family, “Get down! She’s here!” I walked to McKenna and said, “It’s beautiful out here. Let’s Leave!” I jumped in the car and told her the “ice cream” was
7
still down the road. Halfway through the drive, I mentioned I forgot my computer. We drove back to the parking lot of Cedar Breaks, and I said, “come look at this view.” Overlooking the beautiful view was a table and chairs, food, drink and my ingenious memory game. She ran through the photo cards, as I got more nervous. The last card--a picture of the ring. I started preparing my speech. This was my moment. McKenna unveiled the card. She smiled, I got on one knee. My stomach dropped. For months, I have practiced this eloquent, passionate and moving speech but as I stood, got on one knee, opened the ring box, I said something like, “Will you make happy? Will you marry me’s?” She started crying and said yes! Over-filled with emotion, she didn’t hear the mistakes. Phew! Our families then popped out of the trees, smiling and applauding. The happiest moment of my life! The proudest moment of my life! The perfect moment! She actually said YES!
8
•
t h e m o n tgo me r y s
9
10
•
t h e m o n tgo me r y s
T H A NK Y OU D E A R F A M I LY A N D F R I E N D S , We want to thank you for supporting us as we start this new chapter of life together. We have been planning and looking forward to getting sealed together. We are very grateful for those that traveled near and far to celebrate this special event with us. Thanks to our parents who raised us and brought us to where we are today. Your faith, examples, and unconditional love have been instrumental in helping us find each other and will help us as we always strive to love and care for each other. Thanks to our siblings who have also supported us and loved us through the good and the bad. The support has gone beyond what we have seen and more than we could ask for. Thanks to our friends and mentors for your presence in our lives and your presence here today. We hope that each of you will continue to be a part of our lives. We cherish all of the memories we have made with each of you in the past, we will always cherish the fond memories that we have made today, and we will cherish all of the memories that we will continue to share. We love you all with all of our hearts. Love, Scott and McKenna Montgomery
11
12
•
t h e m o ntgo me r y s
Magazine design by @unlikejuliet Photography by @sophs_photo