Jake and Katie were introduced by a mutual friend and groomsman, Eli Lack, in the summer of 2022. Both of them had been single for quite some time and had resolved to enjoy life that way for the foreseeable future. However, one night around a bonfire, Jake and Eli were talking about their motorcycles, and Katie not so jokingly said "So Jake, when are you taking me for a ride?". After the first ride to Lexington, they knew that they had found something special.

Katie has always felt called to the mission field, so it came as no surprise to most when she announced her 4-month trip to Madrid, Spain in January of 2023. While the distance was hard for them and the time change was quite an adjustment, they prioritized praying together twice a day. This helped keep God at the center of their relationship and kept them grounded.

Katie returned on April 30th and Jake wasted little time by proposing on May 4th. During one of their nightly walks, Jake dropped to a knee in the middle of the boardwalk and asked Katie to make him the happiest man in the world. He had arranged friends of theirs to capture the proposal, resulting in the special photo above.

Jake and Katie are excited to be serving on various teams at Transformation Church in Waterford. After marriage, they plan to live together in Lake Orion, MI, and begin fostering children in 2024.