It was June of 2020, a summer Bozeman had been longing for after a long winter of shutdowns and isolation. Shelby had just moved to Bozeman the previous fall and was ready to embrace her first summer in this lively mountain town. That evening, she found herself at Plonk, a cozy wine bar, with her two closest friends, Alanna and Maggie. The trio decided to keep the night going and ventured to the Eagle, a local bar known for its relaxed vibe and pool table. When they reached the pool table, they found it occupied by three guys. One of them—Luke’s brother, Chris—was already asleep on a barstool. It was 8:30pm.

The girls asked if they could have the next game, but they all ended up diving into a round of doubles. Shelby and Luke paired up, and it didn’t take long for them to realize how much they had in common. They discovered that they both had black labrador puppies—Luke’s Razzle and Shelby’s Brisket—who were only a few months apart in age.

Before the game was over, Luke asked Shelby if she wanted to go fishing the following week. Shelby eagerly said yes but couldn’t help calling Maggie to fret: “What if he invited me as a client? Should I plan to pay for a guided fishing trip? What if this isn’t a real date?” Maggie reassured her with a laugh: “It’s definitely a date.”

When the day arrived, Luke didn’t disappoint. He had coffee ready to go for her as they set off on a drift boat adventure with their two energetic puppies, cruising along the scenic Madison River. Midway through the date, Luke anchored on a small island and unveiled a surprise—a white cheddar cheese board.

The day was full of laughter, getting to know each other, and a spirited game of T.R.O.U.T. (if you know, you know!). Shelby didn’t catch a fish that day, but she didn’t mind one bit. By the time the sun set over the water, she realized she had caught a keeper.

In just a few hours, they both knew they had found someone special, and Shelby and Luke have been inseparable ever since. Over the past five years, they've experienced life's highs and lows together, tackled career transitions, explored different parts of the world, purchased their first home, welcomed two cats (Cinnamon and Toast) and nine chickens into their lives, and embraced countless Montana adventures with Razzle and Brisket by their side.