Our Story

—

Payton and Garrett grew up together in Rapid City, South Dakota, going to the same small Catholic school. They knew each other — Garrett was best friends with Payton’s cousin, and his dad built Payton’s family home — but the closest they ever got to friendship was in robotics class in middle school. Both grew up, graduated, and left South Dakota, thinking they’d never look back.

6 years later, Payton was home for a childhood friend’s wedding, and needed a date! Her mom had an idea — what if she took Garrett Schad? He was the best man at her cousin’s wedding the weekend prior, and his speech was pretty good. Maybe he’d be a fun date for the wedding? Plus, he would know people there, so he’d surely have fun.

July 31, 2021

Payton invited Garrett to the wedding thinking nothing of it. Little did she know, Garrett would be her last wedding date until their own wedding 4 years later.

With Garrett based in North Carolina, and Payton in New York City, they spent the next 2 years traveling back and forth to see each other. They wrote letters for months at a time, called each other every day they could, and became best friends.

Hallmark? You rang? ;)

On May 30th, 2023, Garrett and Payton went to Central Park in New York City to practice tying knots for their sailing lessons that weekend. After finding the very best grass, Garrett decided to tie some different types of knots and propose!

May 30, 2023

The best is yet to come!

After their wedding celebrations in November, Garrett and Payton will be moving to Southern Pines, North Carolina, to start their life together.

Behind the scenes

Garrett and Payton were able to visit 27 states and South Korea together over the past 4 years, discovering their shared love for travel, food, architecture, history, bourbon, adrenaline, and everything in between.

  • Garrett's first trip to NYC

  • Wedding dates in Sedona, Arizona

  • 6 months of letters later...

  • Georgia grad!

  • 4th of July in North Carolina

  • Besties @ Ft. Bragg

  • City kids

  • Nerds

  • Engaged!!!!

  • Engagement weekend sailing lessons!

  • 2800 steps later in CO

  • Adventures in Telluride

  • Seoul skyline

  • Korean palace explorers

  • Garrett Schad Kimchi Chef!

  • 'All I want to put on our registry is this tea set' - Garrett

  • We survived the train to Busan

  • Korean bath house lambs

  • 안녕히 가세요 (farewell) at the train station

  • Golfing in Idaho

  • Godparents on duty with Miss Addie

  • Crossing the New River Gorge Bridge in WV

  • California Christmas Tree hunters