Tie the Knot Meg & Dave

Meg Plumb, 29, grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, and graduated with a degree in sociology from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. After a few years living and working in the beautiful mountains of New Mexico, she decided to continue her education and graduated from the University of Virginia with a master’s degree in landscape architecture in May 2015.

Dave Plumb, 32, grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, and graduated with a degree in psychology from Kansas State. Dave has explored many different occupations and hobbies all over the country including firefighter, bartender, backpacking guide, communications manager, ski instructor and emergency room technician. He currently works as a 911 call taker and dispatcher.

Meg and Dave met while working at Philmont Scout Ranch in the mountains of northern New Mexico. The couple became close while working as backpacking guides during the autumn season of 2008. “The backdrop to our love story was mountains covered in fragrant Ponderosa pines and golden aspens and weekend trips to local wineries,” reveals Meg. “We shared our first kiss around a dying campfire while on a road trip touring breweries in Colorado.”

Dave secretly spent a November afternoon at the local SPCA picking out the perfect kitten. “That evening when Meg got home, I got down on one knee and presented her with the kitten, which had the ring tied around her neck in a bow,” Dave reveals. “Meg was so excited about the kitten that it took her several minutes to even notice the ring, and when she did she completely lost it. I asked her to marry me, and she said yes–with a cute kitten in one hand and a ring on the other! We named the kitten Nugget, and she has been a wonderful addition to our lives.”

The blissful couple tied the knot on August 9, 2014, a surprisingly cool day in the middle of a hot Kansas City summer. The wedding party was intimate, with Meg and Dave honoring friends who are dear to them and who have been close to the couple. Meg chose three bridesmaids, all of whom had worked with them at Philmont Scout Ranch. Dave’s four groomsmen and three ushers were childhood friends, college roommates, Philmont coworkers. Dave’s sister was a reader, and Meg’s brother was an usher.

“Our wedding day was made special by embracing family heritage, being surrounded by people we love, and including a few twists on tradition that reflected us as a couple,” Meg reminisces. “Our ceremony was held in the same church as Dave’s parents’ ceremony, Village Presbyterian Church, and where his grandmother has been an active member for more than 50 years. We were honored that guests traveled from 22 states and 2 foreign countries to be present for our wedding day. To celebrate our outdoorsy lifestyle, we literally tied a knot during the ceremony; it now sits in a place of honor on our mantle. The reception featured iconic dishes from all the places we’ve lived. Instead of a cake, we had a plum pie with a Graham cracker crust, a nod to our last names, Plumb and Graham. It was incredible to have everyone we love gathered in one place!”

Meg and Dave honeymooned while exploring the rain forests of Costa Rica, in a balance of relaxation and adventure and the unique opportunity to encounter exotic wildlife and tropical landscapes. They hiked to waterfalls, zip lined through the forest canopy, floated on a twilight river safari tour, and ate many delicious meals of local cuisine. A favorite moment of the trip was witnessing an arribada, when thousands of sea turtles land to nest on a remote beach. HLM