The story begins...

In January of 2008, 21 year-old Stephanie Raleigh and 22 year-old Christian Bennion decided to apply to be sports camp counselors for Brigham Young University. They were both accepted into the program that summer and began a rewarding experience filled with dances, devotionals, and trips to Seven Peaks Water Park. However, their schedules didn’t overlap much and their paths didn’t directly cross until August 15^th of 2008. On that day both Christian and Stephanie began a two-day counselor position with the children of LDS Dentists at BYU’s annual dental conference. They both were assigned to the 5-10 year-olds and headed off to the day’s first activity: The Children’s Museum at the Gateway in Salt Lake City. Christian saw Stephanie not long after arriving and decided to talk to her. Stephanie instantly fell for Christian’s sense of humor and good looks and Christian decided she was definitely someone to pursue. Before they knew it they were finding excuses to talk throughout the day’s events. At the end of the first day while eating in the Cannon Center cafeteria, an eight year-old participant, after observing them eat dinner said, “Are you guys boyfriend and girlfriend?” They didn’t quite know how to reply to that one, but I think they had a feeling for what the future might hold. They had their first “hang-out” the next night where they watched the Olympics and the rest is dating history.

Fast-forward six months. Stephanie is in Washington D.C. for the annual Health Advocacy Summit where her and fellow public health majors are sightseeing and preparing to lobby on Capitol Hill. Stephanie’s roommates tell her that they’re going to the Jefferson Monument to meet some people and then go eat. Stephanie agrees to go and comments multiple times on how beautiful and romantic the setting is as they approach the monument. They lead her near the water to take some pictures when a silhouette in the distance starts waving his hands and walking towards the group. “Hey, let’s get that guy to take our picture,” they say. Stephanie wasn’t too sure about this enthusiastic stranger but quickly changed her mind when she got near enough to hear his voice and see his face. Christian walked towards the stunned Stephanie and hugged her as she began to cry. He then led her near some steps by the water away from everyone else. The sun was setting in the background and candles were glowing all around them. He got on one knee and proposed.

Afterwards they walked to a fancy Italian restaurant where they ate and then through the streets of downtown D.C. as they found their way back to Stephanie’s hotel – the L’Enfant. In the secluded underground entryway they said their goodbyes after only four hours together. Christian then left to hurry back to the airport.

The view coming up to the Jefferson Monument

The Scene of the proposal

Me filming before I even knew Christian was there