After six years of getting to know each other, a couple with roots in the area are getting hitched.

Sunshine Aurora Montagne, a 2000 Nevada Union High graduate will marry former Marine, Mike Patrick Morton, a 1997 Bear River High graduate this weekend on a friend's Rocklin Ranch.

The couple met while attending community college in San Diego. Morton, 29, served in the United States Marine Corp. from 1998 to 2003. He became a sergeant in 2001.

"He teaches me a lot. He's very caring, thoughtful and considerate," Sunshine Montagne said of her future husband.

Watching her eldest daughter prepare to get married this week brings mixed emotions for the bride's mother, Dawn Montagne.

"I raised her alone without any help or child support so this is a huge thing. She and I have been such buddies for so long," Montagne said.

Devoted to her daughter's life, she captured everything on videotape, including the day she received her driver's license.

"I never missed a moment," Montagne said.

The bride's uncle flew in from Thailand to give his niece away. Dakota Montagne, Sunshine's 12-year-old sister will be the maid of honor. Bridesmaids include a cousin, two friends from high school and two more from pre-school.

"We all grew up in Grass Valley," Sunshine Montagne said.

While vacationing in Monterey earlier this year, Morton proposed marriage. Montagne had a return surprise for him. The couple will have a baby boy in September.

"We gave each other the two biggest things that happen in life. We're pretty excited," Sunshine Montagne said.

The couple plans to honeymoon in Hawaii and then settle in the Rocklin area. Morton, the son of Joyce Struble and Pat Morton, hopes to pursue a career with the California Highway Patrol.