Meet Mikayla and Andrew!

Meet Mikayla and Andrew! Today, Andrew asked Mikayla to marry him here at Howe- a place he had quietly chosen as the perfect setting for this big moment. After more than 20 years of friendship, first meeting at just 13 and now celebrating love at 31 and 33, he knew this setting reflected their story perfectly, especially because of how deeply Mikayla connects with nature. Andrew shared that once he truly recognized how grounded and in tune with the earth Mikayla is, discovering the Bridal Altar inside Howe Caverns made everything fall into place. As he put it, “It just made the most sense to be entirely surrounded by nature as best as we could.”

Mikayla grew up in the Capital Region of New York, while Andrew was born in Western New York and relocated to the Capital Region when he was about eight years old. In a sweet twist of fate, both of them visited Howe Caverns as children, and for each of them, the most unforgettable memory was gemstone mining.

These two are true outdoorsmen at heart. They love camping and hiking, and they’re already planning a winter camping adventure for next year. Mikayla works as a manager at a jewelry store, and in a sweetly thoughtful gesture, Andrew secretly bought the very ring he proposed with from her store. Andrew works in healthcare, ensuring every room is properly sterilized and ready for patients and doctors, and he’s soon proudly stepping into a well-earned promotion.

Today, they shared a short but important message that Andrew’s mom often told him when he was younger and facing tough moments: “It doesn’t mean too much to me to mean too much to you.” In other words, other people’s opinions of you should not control your worth or how you feel about yourself.

It’s a gentle reminder to stay grounded in your own perspective, no matter how much someone else values or judges you. Thank you so much for visiting today and thank you for making us a part of your love story!