Emma Kate & Nicholas grew up in the same town, attending rival high schools, Nicholas two grades above Emma Kate. They knew of each other, as they had mutual friends that thought they would be a good match, but they never met in high school. Nicholas attended the University of Iowa & when it came time to venture to college for Emma Kate, she decided to head south and attend Texas Christian University. Their paths crossed for the first time in 2016 when they finally decided to listen to their friends (two years later) and get to know each other, but didn't last as they were attending colleges in different states, each having their own successful collegiate careers. When 2020 rolled around, Emma Kate was getting ready to graduate TCU & Nicholas was playing for the Raptors 905 in Toronto. During this time, Emma Kate was on spring break and had a drink with a plastic shark in it that she put on her instagram story. Nicholas responded and said he would bet her $5 that she would lose the shark by the end of the day. Emma Kate, not being one to back down from a challenge, kept the shark all day & got herself $5. Unfortunately for Nicholas, he lost $5 and Emma Kate did not continue to text him.

Fast forward a month or two, the world shut down and things were not going as planned for Nicholas or Emma Kate. They both had to head back to their home state of Iowa. This brought the two of them together again as something to bond over. After a lot of texting & face timing while the world was shut down, Nicholas decided to brave COVID and head up to Des Moines from Bettendorf for their first date. As no restaurants allowed people to eat inside at the time, they spent the day at Gray's Lake. On June 20th, 2020 Nicholas officially asked Emma Kate to be his girlfriend.

Three years later, on June 20th, 2023, Nicholas planned the most beautiful proposal in Clearwater Beach, FL. Emma Kate's favorite place to be is the beach. He planned for months to make it a wonderful day. He surprised Emma Kate with both of their families and some of Emma Kate's closest friends. It was a perfect day!

Nicholas and Emma Kate have been living in Des Moines, IA for the past year and half and are so excited to have you all join them in Des Moines as they celebrate their marriage in August!