We met in Aquaculture — the fish class nobody expected to be a matchmaker. We’d known of each other through school, but it wasn’t until March 2020 that we really started hanging out, and on May 2, 2020 we began dating. High school days were full of dances, bonfires, and sports: Braiden on the football field and the wrestling mat, Ally cheering from the stands.

After graduation life got busy. Ally began working at Bullfrogs and Butterflies childcare and started college, while Braiden finished his final year of high school and began working at Olsen Electric. Braiden has now been with Olsen Electric full time for four years, and Ally plans to continue at the daycare.

Together we spend our free time at the racetrack with friends, working on cars, playing pickleball in summer, and hosting yard-game parties — but family time is just as important, whether that’s backyard hangs, living-room movie nights, trips, or long phone calls. We’re big Chicago Bears fans and have enjoyed many games together — if we aren’t at the game, we’re watching from home.

One of our favorite shared adventures was a road trip to Rogers, Kentucky in February 2025. After a slow start while Braiden recovered from being sick, on February 5 he surprised Ally by pulling a ring box from his boot and asking her to marry him. It was quiet, perfect, and exactly us. We called family and friends, and their excitement made the moment even better.

Since then, wedding planning has been an adventure for sure — full of small victories and the occasional hiccup — but we’re grateful to be doing it together. Ally handles many of the details, and Braiden is there to listen and support as long as he gets his mechanical bull lol. We’re excited for the future and for what God has in store for us.