Kaitlyn & Kale

Saturday, June 28, 2025 • La Crosse, WI
64 Days To Go!

Kaitlyn & Kale

Saturday, June 28, 2025 • La Crosse, WI
64 Days To Go!

Our Story

The Beginning Story of Kale & Kaitlyn

Picture of The Beginning Story of Kale & Kaitlyn
Since third and fourth grade, we had both attended school and weekly Wednesday night youth group together. Little did we know the love story that would unfold once we reached high school. Some may call us high school sweethearts, but we would like to say it had always been meant to be since we were little kids awkwardly trying to talk to each other before we broke off into our separate youth groups for the night. One random day during the summer of 2016, Kale messaged me and immediately began flirting (although he may argue). Not long after, I went on my way to Italy and Greece. Kale stayed up all hours of the night in US time to be able to talk to me in foreign time. Once I returned from my trip, we began hanging out and getting to know each other more. One of our first dates was to Tews Corn Maze, where we took pictures of ourselves at every marker. A few days after this first date, we were hanging out and I walked Kale to his old blue chevy truck as it was his time to go home. It was at this time that Kale asked for my hands and said “can I show you a magic trick?” There was actually no magic trick other than him asking me to be his girlfriend, but it’s a memory I will never let him forget - he finds this story quite cringy which makes it all the more memorable. The rest was history ❤️

The Story of the Giraffe Onesie

Picture of The Story of the Giraffe Onesie

The scene is a Halloween themed concert starring Horizon at The Blackhorse Bar & Grill in Winona, MN featuring a Halloween costume contest. For those who didn’t know, Kale played drums for Horizon and came up with the fun idea to have a costume contest as part of their set to celebrate Halloween. I (Kaitlyn) had the wonderful idea to get an animal onesie for my costume - simple AND comfy - who could complain? Kale. That’s who. After I had already gotten my hands on this amazing giraffe onesie, Kale was insistent that I did not wear this and that I should dress up in something nice “in case he wanted a picture with me.” Having gone to multiple concerts before this one, I found it ridiculous because we had not once taken a picture together at his concerts (I should have known something was up at this point, but I didn’t). I asked his now groomsmen what their thoughts were on it and they said it was a great costume; shortly after this conversation, Kale informed them of his plans to propose and that they should convince me NOT to wear the onesie, so they redacted their previous claims. I, being confused and hurt, thought why does nobody want me to wear this onesie?! I then confided in my bridesmaid Kennedy about the situation. Kennedy, not knowing Kale’s plans, encouraged me to wear the onesie and said “I have a cow onesie! Let’s both wear one.” And therein lied the problem. I was decided. I was wearing the onesie.
The day of the concert finally arrived, I got dressed up in my giraffe onesie and headed to the venue. The night went by with rock music, lots of halloween costumes, chicken tenders, and lots of dancing. The time came when Kale made his way to the front of the stage and sang the song “I live my life for you” by Firehouse. I felt a bit like I was being serenaded but I didn’t think much of it. So there I stood. Eating cold chicken strips. In a giraffe onesie. While Kale was trying to propose. Ironically, with no knowledge or inkling of Kale’s plans for a proposal, I made multiple comments to Kennedy saying “what if he proposed while I was in a giraffe onesie.” I had no idea. Near the end of the song, Kale made his way off the stage and to me. He pulled me in for a hug and I whispered “imagine if you proposed to me while I’m in a giraffe onesie.” He promptly replied “oh really?,” dropped to one knee, and asked me to marry him. And that is the story of the giraffe onesie, which is now the official mascot of our wedding 🦒