Funny enough, Shane and I never had this place on our radar. We were on a mission for the perfect waterfall overlook—something that caught our attention and worth the drive. We found a few great options online and thought, this is it! But, after seeing them in person, it hit us: it wasn't quite what we were looking for. Not that waterfalls aren’t incredible—trust me, I’m all for the rush of water cascading over rocks—but we just didn’t feel like it was anything special. It was nice, sure, but something was missing.

So, we fired up Google and began our search for something better. Enter: Wiseman's View. The photos were absolutely jaw-dropping, the kind of shots that make you do a double-take and think, This can’t be real… it looks like a postcard. We were so impressed, we decided—on a total whim, mind you—to make the drive, even though it was already getting late in the day.

We were driving along, enjoying the scenery, when we hit the 30-minute mark. That’s when the road turned into something straight out of a disaster movie. Potholes, random hills, and deep ruts—it felt like we were driving through a minefield. The road wasn’t just rough; it was relentless. Every few feet, it felt like our Honda HR-V might either lose a tire or fall apart completely. The suspension was struggling to keep up, and honestly, so were we. Every bump was a jolt that left us questioning how much more the car—and our nerves—could take.

I’d heard the warnings: “4-wheel drive required.” But, of course, I dismissed it like the seasoned traveler I am, assuming my trusty little HR-V would handle it just fine. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. Apparently, my Honda was not quite ready for "off-roading" and definitely not ready for "off-the-beaten-path-don't-even-think-about-driving-without-a-jeep" terrain. But honestly, I couldn't stop laughing. Not in a "haha this is fun!" way, but more of a "why in the world did I think this was a good idea?" kind of laugh.

Every bump, every jolt felt like a personal attack, but I was too shocked to be mad. I think at one point, I was literally clutching the door handle like it was my last lifeline. Shane, however, wasn’t laughing. He was silently questioning his life choices, probably plotting our escape should the car spontaneously combust.

And then, after what felt like years of agony, we reached the parking lot. The road was so bad, I expected a troop of rescue dogs to come dragging us out with a helicopter. Shane looked at me, deadpan, and said, "I don’t care how pretty this view is, I’m never driving up here again."

wisemans view: plot twist 

Now, you’re probably thinking... they definitely chose a different location after that drive! But nope. As insane as that car ride was—winding, long, and a little nerve-wracking—there was nothing that could have convinced us this wasn’t the place the Lord had in mind for us. The moment we arrived, everything just clicked.

It was a quiet, serene place with sweeping views of the valleys and mountains, and there was an undeniable peace in the air. When we first drove up there, I (Desiree) remember getting so emotional. As we stood at the edge of that view, the sheer beauty and stillness of the place took my breath away. I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and the presence of Jesus, like He was right there with us, confirming that this was the place we were meant to be. In that moment,

I just knew this was where we were supposed to get married. It wasn’t just about the location; it was the way it made us feel—at peace, full of joy, and fully present. There was no doubt in my mind that this was the spot where we would start the next chapter of our lives together.