Our earliest memories of each other are at Kenosha County Fair, in the dairy barn. Our families have been friends for years, and we have always known each other, but didn't really become friends until we both were living on JB.

When both were single and Brittany needed some projects done and her horse needed shots, Chad was the guy! The friendship evolved, although we joke that we went from neighbors to living together to engaged, then parents, and soon to be husband and wife. (Chad never asked to officially date.)

At first, it was weird for the kids, but we've all come a long way and couldn't imagine life without each other.

As for the proposal, Chad asked Brittany's parents for their approval to propose at the fair in 2023, and Gail let it slip at some point in September. Chad proposed July 2, 2024, on the beach, during family pictures in Gulf Shores. He snuck to get the ring and was oddly helpful and organized, running errands and putting his clothes away in the camper (to pick up and hide the ring). He asked Keegan what she thought just before pictures and she said she already considered Brittany her step-mom. Kole and Kinzie were surprised but excited. The photographer was also surprised and made a joke about having surprise proposals during shoots, and that's when Chad filled her in.

The venue was an easy choice as Chad and Brittany attended a wedding at 1841 in 2023, when they walked in both immediately said they could see them getting married there. Once they told Gail about it, she fell in love with it and began planning the wedding and pushed for a fall 2023 wedding (even though they still weren't engaged)