Though she is from Rexburg, ID and he grew up in Orem, UT, and both got their undergrads in Utah, they had to move across the country to find each other.



We met as students at the University of Michigan. Holly was about to start her third and final semester of her Data Science Master's program. Pavel was getting ready to begin law school. They both had been in Michigan about a week when the institute threw a back-to-school barbeque in August. This is where the pair finally met. They continued to get to know each other through subsequent ward and institute activities.

Holly's first thought of Pavel was, "Oh, another law student."

While they had met a number of times, it took Pavel a while to learn Holly’s name. He finally did it in a game of capture the flag when Pavel was quickly captured and was handed off to warden Holly. He then drove her crazy with his cries of, "Miss Holly, I'm bored!" Truly, Pavel wasn't locked up with Holly, Holly was locked up with Pavel.

Over the semester, they discovered they both loved playing pool and that they were evenly matched. By the end of October, the two kept finding excuses to play together every day. All of their friends said Holly and Pavel should be dating, but they would both respond, "we're just friends".

At the start of the semester, Holly was unsure of her post graduation plans. Eventually she opted to stay in Michigan, much to Pavel's relief. As they kept playing more , they began talking, confiding, and flirting more and more. Their friendship was transforming.

Pavel finally gathered the courage to ask Holly on a date. He picked the perfect event, a Christmas light extravaganza! She would love it! When Pavel asked Holly, she accepted... but pointed out that the event was a month away. Pavel scrambled and got a sooner date arranged: a murder mystery dinner party (where Pavel guessed the murderer!)

The two started tentatively talking about marriage in December. But when Holly bought her wedding dress over Christmas break, she was all in! Every day after that, she would ask Pavel when she was getting a ring.

When the ring finally arrived, Pavel started pulling strings. He enlisted the help of Holly's friends to get her to a "girl's night karaoke". Little did she know, Pavel had planned everything from the reservation to the candles lighting the room. When she arrived, Pavel had her favorite song, Anthem Lights' "Love You Like The Movies", all queued up. After nailing the first verse, Pavel got down on one knee and asked Holly to marry him, and she said yes!

Though they both grew up in the Rockies, they have fallen in love with Michigan and are excited to begin their life together in that beautiful state.

Holly started a job as a data analyst at Ford in March. Pavel still has two years of law school at the University of Michigan. This summer they'll be able to stay in Michigan as Pavel landed a summer internship with Dykema in Detroit.

They are hoping to purchase a house this summer as they settle into their new life together.
If you would like to help them furnish their home, their venmo is @yellowhollyday.