Michael and I first met in 6th grade. When he transferred to Plattsmouth Middle School, everyone thought that he was the cutest boy EVER, and we all said he looked like Justin Bieber. He was a cool kid and I played trombone, so it wasn’t until high school when we really developed our friendship. He was the first one in the friend group to get his license, so he drove us all around in his first truck. From trips to Orange Leaf and road trips to basketball games, we made so many sweet and special memories during those days. One of my favorite memories is when we went to prom together as juniors, or maybe traveling to every single one of his baseball games, no matter how far.

Life took us in different directions after high school graduation, but our paths kept crossing. I think we went on about 3 first dates throughout the years. But, after reconnecting post-college, things finally clicked. I moved to Des Moines, but eventually we started dating long-distance while Michael was in Omaha. About a year later, he joined me in Des Moines—and the rest is history. These days, we love playing sand volleyball, trying new bars and restaurants, spending time with friends and family, and pestering our cat, Penny. What started as a childhood friendship has turned into a lifelong love story.

We are so incredibly grateful for the love, encouragement, and support we’ve received from our family and friends throughout our journey together. Your presence in our lives has shaped who we are and made this season even more special. Whether you’ve been there since our awkward middle school days or just recently became part of our story, thank you for celebrating with us, cheering us on, and showing up in so many meaningful ways.

We truly feel surrounded by love, and we can’t wait to share this next chapter with all of you by our side.

With all our love,

Ally & Michael