Our love story started in high school, during chemistry class to be specific. After being in the class together all fall, it wasn't until our teacher assigned a new seating chart that the sparks began to fly. Jon's not one to make a scene, but it was pretty obvious that he couldn't fit in his newly assigned desk. Conveniently enough, and as fate would have it, there was an extra desk at the back of the classroom right next to his future wife, Alyssa. From small conversations, innocent text messages about homework, and making test tube ornaments for each other before Christmas break, our story was well underway. Shortly after the holidays, Jon asked Alyssa to be his girlfriend! The love story continued throughout high school. Cheering each other on at sporting events, school dances, hanging out on weekends, and summer trips were how we spent the following few years. High School graduation came quickly and before we knew it, it was time for our next chapter.

Individually, college gave us a new perspective about ourselves. We learned who we wanted to be, what we wanted to be, and where we wanted to be. We found our career paths, Jon in accounting and Alyssa as a teacher. We found new friends, new hobbies, part-time jobs, internships, and student teaching. The norm of seeing each other every day during the high school years, to now seeing each other in a limited capacity, was a new adventure. While it wasn't always what we wanted, the separation allowed for us to grow individually, mature, and realize our true wants and goals. When the time came for us to wrap up college, it was pretty clear that our goals still aligned. The goal was to stay near family, stay together, and eventually tie the knot. The first goal was achieved when Alyssa took a job at John Glenn High School, in Bay City, as a 9th and 10th grade Social Studies teacher and Jon accepted a Cost Accounting role at The Dow Chemical Company in Midland. Before we even knew it, we were full on adults taking on the professional world together.

In the spring of 2022, Jon set out with the idea that he wanted to get an engagement ring for Alyssa. He didn't quite have a plan, a budget, or a timeline. If we are being honest, he had to use inspiration from her Pinterest to figure out what she even wanted. Nonetheless, he knew what he wanted to do. When it came to the actual event of asking Alyssa, Jon wanted it to be perfect. He wanted the perfect moment, the perfect surprise, and the perfect picture. However, when the time came, he realized that he was missing an important factor, a meaningful place. With only a few days prior, Jon ditched his previous plans and restarted on new ones to ask Alyssa during the annual Memorial Day trip up to her family cabin. The Zettle family cabin is a special place to Alyssa, so Jon knew it was the perfect place. Somehow, even with bad plans, not knowing what to say, and not putting the engagement ring on Alyssa's finger, it was still the perfect moment, the perfect surprise, and the perfect picture.

Fast forward almost two years, we are nearly to the big day. Through it all, there were consistent figures within our lives that motivated and carried us through the hard times, were proud and supported us through the good times, and carefully put us back on the straight and narrow when we needed it. Whether you know it or not, you all have shaped us into the couple we are today and the couple we will be going forward. We can't wait to have all of you come together and experience this big day with us!