Dustin and Ariana met in the winter of 2019 while attending UW-Stout located in Menomonie WI. The two lived in the same freshman dorm building, just two floors away from each other. Dustin and Ariana had a mutual friend, Zach, that happened to be Dustin's roommate at the time. Zach had insisted that Ariana come over for a movie night in their dorm room, to which she accepted the invitation. As she walked into the room, she was immediately drawn to a very cute but very ill Dustin laying on the futon, with a pack of frozen vegetables on his forehead. As Ariana joined Dustin and Zach on the futon, Dustin immediately made himself comfortable and laid his legs on Ariana's lap. He began to ask Ariana who she was, and where she was from. The two continued to engage in conversation of similar hobbies and interests throughout the night, until 'the sickling' fell asleep. Ariana went back to her dorm room, not expecting this encounter to go anywhere. However, to her surprise, Dustin had continued to reach out to her, and asked her to hang out the following evening. Dustin and Ariana continued to hang out every day from that day forward and became inseparable. They established a strong friendship; despite the strong feelings they had for one another. They agreed that they were both not ready for a serious relationship but communicated that they would be honest with the other at all times.

As their freshman year was coming to an end, they both prepared to lose connection due to the long distance between the two of them. However, just days after moving back home for the summer, they were already eager to see each other. They both began to dedicate every weekend and paycheck to drive the two hours to enjoy each other's company. Dustin and Ariana did not officially become a couple until the winter of 2020, after they both communicated to one another that they had broken their number one rule: to not fall in love with each other (you can say it, it is cheesy.) They agreed that they were ready for a committed relationship (although I think everyone is convinced that they were a couple long before this.) and the rest is history!

Throughout the last couple of years, Ariana and Dustin have continued to work as a team through the ups and downs of a pandemic, college/college living situations, adulting in their new careers, and living in their parents' basement together not once, but twice. ;) They have adopted two family members throughout the years; their Aussie Mudd, and their kitty Lu who are their pride and joy.

Dustin and Ariana are very excited and grateful to everyone that is able to join them on their special day; they cannot wait to see what the future has in store for the two of them as a married couple!