Erik and Ashley met in college but didn’t know at the time their relationship would flourish into what it is today. They were both dating other people when they met. They started the SIUE Elementary Education program in 2017 and had all their classes together due to being in the same cohort of the program. A few months into the school year, they were creating a strong friendship. There were a lot of group projects, and they always seemed to end up in the same group. Ashley enjoys baking so one day she brought in a slice of banana bread as her breakfast. Sitting across from her was Erik, who asked, “did you bring banana bread to class with you?” Ashley said, “Yes, would you like a piece?” Erik, very fond of banana bread, said “Yes, of course.” Little did they know that the slice of banana bread started a small spark. After all, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, right?

Their friends in their classes could tell there was something stronger than a friendship there, but the two wouldn’t admit to it if there was. Well, it wasn’t long into the school year that Ashley went through a break-up. Break-ups are always tough, but they both know they had different goals and directions to go in life, so it was mutual. A few short weeks later, Erik went through a break-up himself. He knew the relationship he was in wasn’t what he wanted, and ultimately didn’t see a future in it. As close friends, they confided in each other. This allowed them to build a deeper connection than they expected. They got closer, learned what they were looking for in life, and the kind of future they wanted to build. It was through these discussions they learned they wanted the same things out of life. They balanced each other out well. Ashley is the extroverted go-getter who will talk to anyone, while Erik is the introverted, rational thinker, who takes to time to open-up and make decisions.

They finally decided to go on a “first date” in October 2017. They became inseparable from that day. They officially started dating October 26, 2017. Since then, they have created many memories together. They have gone on countless trips and vacations, moved into an apartment, and have learned how to navigate life together. They had some of the best moments together, but also experienced some of the worst. Their world turned at the loss of Erik’s little brother, Tyler. They had to learn how to work through deep emotions, communicate feelings, and lean into each other when worst comes to worst.

After several months of hardships, building a stronger foundation than they ever had, and learning what it takes to make a relationship and marriage to be successful, Erik was (finally) ready to propose. He worked with their best friends (Hannah and Mitch) to plan the perfect proposal for Ashley. He decided to propose while they were visiting Hannah and Mitch in Colorado. On June 16, 2023, in Estes Park, Colorado, with the Rocky Mountains as their background, Erik got down on one knee and asked Ashley to be his wife. She, of course, said “Yes, absolutely.”

They are looking forward to celebrating their marriage on May 31, 2024, with their friends and family by their side. They know that having a strong marriage will take a lot of work, along with sacrifice and compromise. They know times won’t always be easy but are thankful for the support of everyone around them.

They feel they have a strong foundation they have worked hard for and look forward to continuing to build on it. They don’t know what their future holds, but they know they can work through anything with unconditional love, and a slice of banana bread.

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