Brandon and I met on July 4, 2013 at Illinois State University through mutual friends on the way to a pool party. The next day, a few of our friends were hanging out outside of Brandon's apartment at Willow Trails. We had a lot of fun that day as a group, but I didn't see him again until school started in the fall.

That fall, our friends started hanging out more often, which led Brandon and I to become friends. At first, I didn't think our relationship would be anything other than a friendship. My friends told me that Brandon had a crush on me, but I wasn't too sure about that.

In October, Brandon asked me to be his date to fraternity's date night. The date night consisted of tequila and us being attached by the wrists for hours. We had an absolute blast together and I thought to myself hmmm, being stuck with him isn't so bad!!

I quickly learned that Brandon is one of the sweetest, funniest, most amazing people I have ever met. I feel like the luckiest girl ever to get to call him my future husband.

Well, my perspective is a little different. I remember meeting Autumn in a car ride, but I couldn’t quite see her face because she had to sit on my lap in order for everyone to be able to fit in the car. It wasn’t until July 5th, 2013 that I really got to see Autumn for the bombshell she was. She was wearing an American flag tank top and some jean shorts. I remember running into my apartment to ask all my friends who the heck she was. I came to find out that I was the only one of my friends who had never met her before. I then told my friend Steve “I’m going to date that girl”. He replied sarcastically, “Okay BJ”. I didn’t see Autumn again until school started where I resumed my infatuation with her.

The school year began and I asked Autumn to my date night where we were handcuffed to one another until we finished our adult beverage, that being a fifth of tequila. We accomplished that feat much faster than many others. Thus is where our relationship truly began to blossom. Autumn and I continued to hang out pretty frequently, until I fulfilled my promise to my friend Steve of “dating that girl”.

Low and behold, I overshot my statement and I will be marrying her 6 years and 1 day after seeing this cutie in my front yard.