If you couldn't tell already, Kyle and I quickly gained strong feelings for one another. Each day that we were together, things fell more in to place and I couldn't imagine myself with anyone else. Yes, I was 18. Yes, he was 22. But things just seemed to click between us. We both felt that there was a reason for our coming together and growing so close so fast.

We met on a Sunday, said "I love you" on Monday, and started talking wedding dates on that following Thursday. Four days? Yes. Four days. That's all it took.

I needed to go to a ballet in Salt Lake for one of my classes and I hadn't purchased tickets yet. So when Kyle came into my life, I decided it wouldn't hurt to ask him if he'd like to join me for the ballet so we could spend time together and I wouldn't have to go alone. He willingly joined me and we sang disney songs on the way to the theater. After a good twenty minutes of trying to find the correct building, we ended up at the right place and purchased our tickets. Kyle held my hand while we waited for the doors to open and to take our seats in the auditorium. Once we were settled, we still had a few minutes before the show was scheduled to begin. Neither of us really remember exactly how it got brought up, but we were talking to one another about how we didn't want to date anyone else, ever again. So I pulled out my phone and opened my Pinterest app to show him my Wedding board. We scrolled through some of the ideas together and Kyle pulled out his phone to open his calendar. We decided that April 25th would be a great day for a wedding, so that was the plan. The show was starting though, so we put our wedding conversation on hold. In between numbers, we talked more about the date and colors we liked. I couldn't believe we were already talking about wedding plans when we hadn't even known each other for a week, but it felt right. It made me excited and nervous in a good way, but never scared or concerned. We both felt strongly about being together so that is what we were going to do; stay together.

When the ballet was over, we drove back toward Provo. Kyle's mom was in town, though, as she was driving out his car for him from Minnesota. So Kyle asked me if I would be okay with meeting her. I was anxious but agreed and we met his mom at Applebee's. I wanted to make a good first impression but I've grown increasingly more shy over the years, so I wasn't sure how to make a good impression without making her feel like I was being standoffish. I think things went well though and we said our goodbyes at the end of the meal. Now, this was good timing. Kyle and I decided we would get married, he'd already met my parents, and now his mom just happened to be in town that same week. I'm grateful it worked out the way it did and that he and I could move forward with our plans.

Over the next few days, we saw each other without fail. After school and work, we made time together and talked about our plans for the wedding. I felt good about everything... except the fact that April 25th seemed so far away. I know, we barely knew each other. I know, it was early October. But when you know who you want to spend the rest of your life with, you want the rest of your life to begin as soon as possible. So after visiting my sister at work and asking her advice on the situation, she basically told me the same thing. There was no point in waiting if the only reason we were pushing it out so far was to meet the "6 month mark" that seems to be pretty common for couples in our area. That night, I got home and made a pros and cons list to show Kyle as soon as he got off work and came over. After talking it over and realizing we really had no reason to wait, we decided that January 17th would be our wedding date.

Soon after, Kyle called his parents and, from what he's told me, they kind of knew it was coming. He let them know that we were planning on getting married and that it would be in 3 short months. They were a little surprised at that timeline but seemed happy for us. So Kyle and I got our ring sizes and went from there. I showed him the kind of ring I had always hoped for and he showed me some ideas for a wedding band for him. It was all happening pretty fast but it still just felt right, so we went along with it all.

We ordered our rings in mid-October and they arrived at the beginning of November. Between that time, Kyle set up a time with my dad to formally ask for his permission to marry me. They met at a local diner and had a good talk while my dad had a shake and Kyle was too nervous to order. My dad asked him things like "Will you take care of her? Will you honor your priesthood?" to which Kyle responded yes. He assured my dad that I would be taken care of and that his intentions were genuine. So with my dad's blessing, we were able to move forward.

 Kyle and I were spending time together one day when he had to grab something from his apartment. So we went by and he noticed that a package had come. He went up to his room to open it and I stayed downstairs in the kitchen. When he came back down, he let me know it was the rings and that I'd be getting it soon. I, of course, wanted a cute proposal but part of me just wanted him to ask me right then and there. I'm glad I was patient, though, and that Kyle had time to plan everything out.

November 5th, 2014. Kyle was working until 7:30 like usual, then he planned on coming over. 7:30 came and passed, and at about 8 I got a text from him apologizing, saying he had to stay late and that he would let me know when he would be able to come by. I was a little bummed but let him know it was okay and I'd see him soon. Shortly after, there was a knock at the door. My best friend, Holly, was there, and made small talk before handing me a folded up piece of paper from her pocket and promptly turning and walking away. I called after her and asked her to wait a minute while I opened the paper. It was a riddle, written in Kyle's handwriting. That little sneak! The riddle gave me instructions to go to the duplex we would be moving into after we got married. (We found it just a few days before and gave our landlord the deposit, since Kyle was going to move in for the last 2 months before our wedding.) When I got there, I opened the door to find a single red rose on the steps next to yet another letter. This time, it was a poem telling me to go to my brother, Treis. Treis passed away in July 2014, so I knew it meant I'd need to go to the cemetery. I called Holly before driving back toward the cemetery and she asked if I wanted her to meet me there. I said yes so we both arrived at the cemetery a few minutes later. I didn't know where the next letter might be, so I paced around the gate while Holly suggested looking in various places. After a good ten minutes, at least, she pulled out the final letter from her coat pocket. Again, Kyle is a sneak! Holly was in on it, and Kyle told her to stall a little bit as he needed more time at the final destination. I opened the last letter though, and it directed me to a park up the canyon. Holly offered to drive me, so I could drive back home with Kyle and we would pick up my car after.

We got to the canyon and I saw Kyle standing by the pavilion at a park. He had his hands behind his back and was smiling but looked very nervous. Throughout the night, I knew what was coming, but it hit me all at once when he was standing there and patiently waiting as I walked toward him. When I got right next to him, he turned his body to a different direction so I followed and faced him. He proceeded to tell me how much he loves me and cares for me, and that he couldn't imagine life with anyone else. He promised me that he would love and protect me and always do his best to keep me smiling. From behind his back came a beautiful bouquet of a dozen red roses, which he handed to me before the big moment. He then got down on one knee and paused before opening the ring box and ending with "Tessa Elizabeth Millar, will you marry me?"

And I said Yes!

He got back up and gave me a hug while my eyes started to tear up. He took the ring out of the box and placed it on my finger while we hugged and kissed. After a minute or two of feeling as if we were the only two people in the world, Kyle pointed toward some nearby trees and out came a photographer he had hired to take pictures of the whole thing. She then took some closer shorts of us together before Holly came running up and gave me a hug. We gathered Kyle's things and walked back toward the cars, excited to tell our family and friends. I promptly called my mom and sent a group text to my family, including a picture of the ring.

Once we got back to my parent's house, Kyle let his parents know and we shared it on Facebook. I couldn't believe that the shiny ring on my finger was a promise of forever. I couldn't believe that this was all really happening, and that Kyle and I were making such a big commitment. I was so happy though and so ready for this next step in our lives.

From there, we had 2 months and 12 days to plan our winter wedding.