The Beginning
Back in 2014, Brianna went to Northern Air Family Fun Center (a trampoline park) in Grand Forks with her friends for the weekly “Jump and Jam.” While they were playing dodgeball, they met a group of guys from a small town known as Ada, MN. Fast forward a year, they all met up again at Northern Air, but this time with a new guy joining the group, Robert. Brianna and Robert didn’t talk much right away (Robert thought Brianna was way out of his league). Fast forward another 9 months, Robert got up the courage to Snapchat Brianna. In September of 2016, they hung out for the first time at Brianna’s friend’s house for a bonfire. Robert must’ve been nervous because he didn’t talk much that night (ha!). A few weeks later on October 21, 2016, Robert drove to East Grand Forks to hangout with Brianna and meet her family for the first time. When Robert arrived at Brianna’s house that day, he took an extra lap around the block and thought to himself “I might be meeting the girl I’m gonna marry.” For their first date they watched a movie and ate dinner at Olive Garden. On October 29th, 2016, Brianna finally got permission from her parents to drive to Ada alone and meet Robert’s family. Later that day, Robert asked Brianna, “So are you my girlfriend yet?” She replied “I don’t know, am I?” And Robert answered, “yes. ”
The Highschool Years
Once Robert and Brianna started dating, they were inseparable. They each drove the hour from Ada to Grand Forks and vice versa almost every weekend.
Her senior year, Brianna was crowned the homecoming queen in East Grand Forks!
A week later, Robert was crowned the homecoming king in Ada! It was meant to be!
The College Years
When senior year of high school came around in 2018, decisions had to be made about their futures. Brianna chose to attend college at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Robert decided to attend college at the University of Minnesota in Duluth, MN 4 1/2 hours away. Even with the long distance, they still managed to see each other about every other weekend.
Halfway through freshman year at UMD, Robert made the decision to transfer to UND in the fall of 2019 to be closer to Brianna.
After they finished out their first year of college in May of 2019, Robert moved to Chicago for the summer to intern at Rothschild Investment Corporation. Brianna flew out to visit him for a long weekend that June, and they made many great memories!
In August of 2019, Robert moved to Grand Forks to finish out college at UND with Brianna! They attended many Sioux hockey games together!
In March of 2020, they took their first long road trip together for spring break out to Colorado! Both of their families were worried that they would catch COVID on this trip and not make it back! On the way home, they got the news that UND would move to online school for the remainder of the school year.
In Summer of 2020, Robert took a break school and worked for his grandpa’s construction company out in rural North Dakota 4 hours from Grand Forks. He still managed to drive back home to Grand Forks every weekend!
Robert and Brianna took their first trip out to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming in August of 2020! They hiked to some amazing vistas, swam in the lakes, and camped in the Bridger Teton National Forest!
In December of 2020, Robert moved back to Grand Forks to start back at UND and moved in with Brianna and her two roommates!
Robert and Brianna made sure to travel as much as possible while in college! They loved to visits friends from all over and see the mountains! They completed their first backpacking trip in Glacier National Park together during the summer of 2021.
In August of 2022, they moved into their first place alone!
The Engagement
After a long night of traveling to Longmont, Colorado, Robert and Brianna woke up around 4 am on August 13, 2023, to head to Rocky Mountain National Park to camp for a few days with their good friends, Chris and Ally. Once they reached the park, they decided to hike up four miles to Chasm Lake to see the rock face known as “The Diamond.” It was a calm and foggy morning hike with an elevation gain of over 2,500 feet (for those of you who don’t hike normally, that’s a lot). Our North Dakotan lungs weren’t exactly acclimated yet. The parking spots near the trail head were limited, so the crew dropped Brianna off at the trail head (she has asthma and felt that she probably didn’t need to walk an extra half mile up a hill) and drove down to park their cars. Meanwhile, while Robert, Ally, and Chris parked, Robert unveiled his secret plan to propose on the hike. Once everything was packed up, they began their ascent into the clouds. The hike started off with an easy incline into a dense forest of colorful flowers and wild animals. As the trail grew steeper, a cool swirling fog began to roll in creating a mysterious yet calm ambiance. The clouds, however, weren’t quite thick enough to hide Robert, Ally, and Chris’ excitement. As they trekked through numerous switchbacks and rock scrambles, Brianna could tell something was up. Finally, they reached the final decent into the lake. Crawling down slippery rocks, they inched their way to the crystal clear glacial lake and huge cliffs hidden by the dense fog. Once they relaxed for a few minutes and satisfied their hunger, it was time for a photo op. Chris and Ally pointed out a massive boulder, edging into the water, perfect for the moment they’ve all been patiently waiting for. Brianna and Robert climbed up the rock and took in the heavenly grey haze masking Long’s Peak. Lost in the mist, Brianna says to Robert, “I wish we could see the Diamond.” Robert, already down on one knee, anxiously utters, “Check out this diamond.” Brianna turns around to witness Robert holding a sparkling white gold ring finally asking Brianna the question he’s been waiting to for so long.
