It all started in 2017, back in high school weight training class. Technically, you were supposed to lift weights—unless it was gameday, when lifting wasn’t required. For us, every day became “gameday,” and that playful tradition sparked a connection that would grow into something incredible.

Our first real date (outside of just hanging out at each other’s houses) was at Sarah’s Lake that summer. Little did we know, that simple outing would come full circle in the most meaningful way years later.

Fast forward to May of 2022: we were both in college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, figuring out life together. It was a wild time—Austin was 21, Reese was 20—and adopting Bruno, our dog, only made things crazier. Juggling college life and a puppy at that age, we had no idea what we were doing, but we made it work. Reese was pursuing nursing, and I was diving into financial advising. Even in the chaos, adopting Bruno was the best decision we ever made as a team.

The biggest moment yet came when it was time to pop the question. I wanted the proposal to be special and decided to bring things back to where it all began: Sarah’s Lake. With Bruno along for the adventure, we set up a pretend family photo shoot. On the beach, Bruno wore a bandana that read, “Will you marry my dad?” I got down on one knee—nearly dropping the ring in the process—and asked Reese to marry me. To top it off, her family had been hiding nearby, and they rushed out to celebrate with champagne and hugs.

The surprises didn’t end there. We headed to our favorite spot, Fenders, for what Reese thought was just a casual celebratory drink. Instead, all our friends and family were waiting to fill the entire place! Signature cocktails like “It’s Gameday,” “The Bruno,” and “Marry Me Martini” captured special moments from our journey. It was the perfect end to an unforgettable day.

What makes our story truly special is that we’re high school sweethearts who’ve grown together through every chapter of life. From weight training class to now, we wouldn’t change a thing about our journey.