Zach and I first met in high school, and I still remember the moment when I first thought he was cute. Zach was a hard commodity to get, but that did not stop me. (Ummm so cute). We had this class together called foods, it was my dream come true. I was sitting at my desk and in comes Zach. (This was my chance). He was like no other man I have ever met. But as I got to know him, he had this wild, carefree vibe about him—curly hair, dimples that made him impossible not to love. (He was so cute, did I say that already?). He was so unique. He played just about every sport. But he had no cares of the world, which drew me in more.

Everyone knew him, and he always had this way of making people laugh. Something about him made me question more. But when I met his family, It made all of the more sense. His family quickly became nothing short of my everything.


He drove around in his big white truck, always up to something, and honestly, it wasn’t hard to see why he stood out. There was a certain charm to the way he carried himself. That truck.


But Zach wasn’t exactly quick to give me a chance. (He gave me a run for my money) He was hesitant to date me, and for months, I felt like I was the one chasing him. Finally, after a lot of patience (and maybe a little persistence), Zach gave in, and I’m so glad he did.


When we started dating, it was like everything clicked. I found in Zach someone who could make me laugh and challenge me in ways I never expected. Dating Zach is fun. I never know what Zach will say or do. But no matter what he does, he does it to make people laugh and smile. Over the years, we’ve learned a lot about each other, even though we’re pretty different in a lot of ways. But that’s what makes us work—we balance each other out. We make each other whole.

But high school ended, but we didn’t. We parted our ways, but it was the best times of our lives to learn from each other and find who we wanted to be. After high school, I went to UW Oshkosh to study nursing, while Zach headed to UW-Stevens Point and then Madison for his Physician Assistant studies. We both grew so much in our own ways. Even though we were far apart, we found ways to stay close. From nights in Point to pub crawls in Oshkosh. But we always gave each other the chance to be individuals in our own ways. We bonded over our shared passion for healthcare and supported each other through the ups and downs of college life. We found our own passions. We were two very different people, but we always knew we made each other better. We were the best part of each other.

After eight years of forgiveness, love, communication, encouragement, joy and trust our lives changed forever.

The proposal… After years of love and adventures, Zach took me to Hawaii. (I totally knew he was going to propose) We spent the day sightseeing, snorkeling, and soaking in the incredible beauty of the island. Afterward, we hiked the Crouching Lion trail, and at the top, with the breathtaking views of the ocean surrounding us, Zach asked me to spend forever with him. Of course, I said yes!

Right after the proposal, as we started making our way back down the hike, it began to rain. And, of course, Zach slipped on some mud and went hanging 90 degrees—legs off the trail, arms flailing, and completely off-balance. I guess this was the universe’s way of showing us that things can’t always go smoothly. But Zach, being the quick thinker he is, managed to catch himself just in time, proving that even in unexpected moments, he’s always got a plan—especially when it comes to saving face (and his pride!).


From high school sweethearts to now, our journey together has been nothing short of amazing. We stood together beyond what I ever thought possible. We have always been the best thing that has ever happened to each other. And we can’t wait to see what the future holds. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve grown, and now, we’re ready to begin this next chapter of our story. We are so honored for all of you to be right next to us. We love and appreciate you beyond belief. Thank you for being apart of our forever.

The chase is not over, I will forever chase this love.