Franz and Gracie’s story began on the lake, with some friends, a bonfire, and a whole lot of yelling across the water.

In the summer of 2021, Franz was on a trip with his buddies. They had rented a house by the lake and were doing what any group of guys would do, partying on the dock and trying to get the attention of boats and jet skis to come join the fun. That is when he spotted two girls riding by out on the water. One of them was Gracie. Franz could barely see her, but that did not stop him from shouting out an invite to their bonfire.

Somehow, it worked.

Gracie and her friend Bella came over that night, and what started as a random lake weekend turned into something unforgettable. A few weeks later, Franz and Gracie went on their first real date at the Atlanta Zoo. It was one of those days where everything just clicked. They laughed, explored, and left feeling like they had known each other for much longer than they had. About a month after that, Franz asked her to be his girlfriend, and from then on, they were together constantly.

They bonded over cooking, spending time outside, hanging with friends, and just doing everyday life together. Whether it was a night out or doing absolutely nothing, it was always more fun when they were together. They started spending so much time with each other that after a few months, moving in just sort of happened. There was no big decision or dramatic moment. It just made sense.

Three and a half years later, Franz knew there was no one else he wanted by his side for the rest of his life. He made plans to propose during dinner at Iron Age Korean Barbecue in Alpharetta. But the vibe in the restaurant that night was strange. Something felt off. So he held off. On the drive home, he could not stop thinking about it. Why wait? He already knew.

Later that night, while Gracie was in the kitchen getting a glass of water, Franz dropped to one knee behind the island. He was in his underwear, it was completely unplanned, and they could not stop laughing. But in the middle of all that laughter, she said yes.

Now, almost five years after Franz could barely see her out on the lake, they are getting married. And they cannot wait to celebrate their love with all the people who have been part of their story from the very beginning.