Two Lucky Ducks
How It All Began — 2015
Caden and Cara’s love story began long before they started dating on Christmas Eve in 2018. They first met in 2015—Cara was a junior, and Caden was a senior in high school. They were in Honors Anatomy with Mrs. Kipe. Caden, who often took on the role of the class clown, sat behind Cara, who tried her best to maintain focus on her studies despite the temptation to laugh at his jokes. While they didn’t know it yet, their story was already unfolding. They quickly became close friends, spending many cold mornings in each other’s cars, waiting for the school day to begin.
As the months passed, that friendship slowly began to grow into something more. One day, Caden got up the nerve to ask Cara on a date. They grabbed frozen yogurt and ended up at Pines Park, where they sat under the stars, talking and laughing. Toward the end of the evening, Caden admitted his hands were freezing and asked Cara if she’d help warm them up.
This was the first night Cara & Caden held hands.
Although they didn’t officially begin dating in high school, this marked the beginning of a special and meaningful connection between them.
Fast forward to the Fourth of July, summer of 2015. Their time was limited as Caden was about to head off to college, but they both found themselves down at the beach celebrating the 4th of July with friends. As the fireworks ensued, Cara shared her first kiss with the boy who would one day become her husband.
At the end of the summer, Caden left for college. Though they kept their friendship over the years, it wasn’t until Caden’s senior year and Cara’s junior year of college at the University of Oregon, that God’s timing brought them back together.
2018
That year, they both moved into new apartments with their friends, and by chance, their places were only half a block apart. It felt like God’s way of bringing them back into each other’s lives.
After a month of spending almost every day together, Caden took Cara to Three Arch Bay, a place that would become a meaningful part of their story. He finally asked her to be his girlfriend.
Caden and Cara spent the next five years dating. Over those five years they not only fell deeply in love with each other, they learned how to become partners in life and team mates. They experienced the challenges of long distance, built lasting memories with each others’ families, and dreamed about their future together.
2023
On December 9th of 2023, Caden and Cara went on a very special date.
He took Cara back down to Three Arch Bay, where their journey together had begun. There, a table was set up with flowers, photos, champagne — and a big question that would change their lives forever. With tears, laughter and a perfect sunset, Caden asked Cara if she would marry him, and she said yes.
From that day to now they have continued to grow in their love as they prepare for marriage. They cannot wait for their big day on May 30th, 2025, and could not be happier and more grateful to have each of you there to celebrate and support them in their new chapter.
It was always you.
