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Darin & Katelyn

April 11, 2026 • Fort Recovery, Ohio

Darin & Katelyn

April 11, 2026 • Fort Recovery, Ohio

06.24.2023 First Unofficial Meeting

Katelyn was attending her college roomate's wedding when she noticed one of the ushers tearing up the dance floor with the kids. This, as you would guess, was Darin, Ross's cousin. When they were getting a drink at the bar, Katelyn approached Darin and said "You're really dancing out their." Darin thought she was mocking him and annoyed responded with "Those are my nephews." and walked away.

10.14.2023 First Official Meet

The couple officially met at Fishmo's, the last stop on Rachel Tebbe's 21st birthday party bus that Katelyn was riding. The theme was "Janky Wedding," and Katelyn showed up in her mom's old 80s bridesmaid dress. Spotting Darin from Krista and Ross Bruggeman's wedding, she sat down with her friend at the table next to the dartboard he was playing at. Somehow, maybe it was the dress, or maybe it was Katelyn drunkenly debating Catholicism with her friend Kylie, Darin asked for her number. In classic drunkenly fashion, she gave him the wrong one.

11.04.2023 Katelyn Gives Darin Her Real Number

After Erica and Ryan Ungruhn's wedding, Katelyn walks into Fishmo's and spots Darin at the bar. She hits him on the shoulder and says, "You didn't even text me." Darin laughs and replies, "Yes, I did, you gave me a fake number." Katelyn realizes she'd mistyped it after getting off the party bus, so she corrects the number in his phone. As they start texting, Katelyn discovers that Darin is eight years older than her and panics. She first tries to scare him off, and when that doesn't work, she decides to ghost him a day later. After multiple attempts to reach her the next couple of days, Darin makes one last effort to connect by texting her again at the end of the week. After her sisters found out and unleashed a tirade of words better left unsaid, Katelyn decided to put the age difference aside and gave Darin a chance by responding to his final attempt.

11.12.2023 First Date

Just two days after reconnecting, the couple planned their first date. For their first date, Katelyn came over to Darin's house to watch Sunday Football. Darin had the screen split and even set up an extra TV so they could catch all the prime-time games at once. It made for a cozy, relaxed date without the pressures of going out in public. If you know Darin, he usually doesn't like wearing shirts around the house, but on that night, he had one on the whole time. At the time, Katelyn probably thought that was normal, but in hindsight, it is now surprising. In honor of that memorable evening, we're excited to have our guests sign footballs instead of a traditional guest book.

11.25.2023 Dating Anniversary

Our first adventure beyond Mercer County: Cincinnati Zoo Lights

December 22, 2023

Our first adventure beyond Mercer County: Cincinnati Zoo Lights
Our second adventure beyond Mercer County: Lake Tahoe

May 11, 2024

Our second adventure beyond Mercer County: Lake Tahoe
Our First Country Concert Together: Hardy Baby

July 13, 2024

Our First Country Concert Together: Hardy Baby
Our First of Many St. Patrick’s Days Together

March 16, 2025

Our First of Many St. Patrick’s Days Together
Engagement Day

July 17, 2025

Engagement Day
Engagement Party

August 16, 2025

Engagement Party
Bengals won 33–31 at our first NFL game together. Katelyn’s very first game. Let’s just say one of us was thrilled, and the other…not so much.

October 16, 2025

Bengals won 33–31 at our first NFL game together. Katelyn’s very first game. Let’s just say one of us was thrilled, and the other…not so much.