Nick's version.......

It was the end of 2017, I was working at my store. Going through life thinking I would never find love. At this point in my life I wasn't looking for love but love found me. So here I am just selling liquor when this absolute beauty graces me with her presence. The first time I laid eyes on her I was blown away. Her eyes were intoxicating. So as I normally would I just went on with my life. From time to time she would come in and I would just stare at her from a distance, some times I would try to flirt with her but got me no where . She would say she flirted back but that's just not true. Anyway one wonderful evening Kate and her friend come to the store and somehow hung out with me for the entire evening. The whole time all I was thinking is this girl is amazing, she has to be mine. So that evening I gave her a ride home and I ended the evening with a kiss. Turns out she liked me as well, super crazy, perhaps unbelievable. Fast forward, I took Kate out on a date, we went to the seafood buffet at the casino, I was surprised she said yes. She doesn't like seafood and it was about a week in and my mom and sister would be there, so I knew she was in for the long haul. I knew she would be mine..... I knew she would be mine. Kate graduated from SVSU with her bachelor's in nursing, moving back to Grand Rapids. This was difficult, being away from each other and being a fresh relationship I knew we couldn't keep doing this. I missed her too much and at that point I knew I wanted her to be my WIFE. She doesn't believe that but I knew. After about a year of long distance, we decided to find a home in Freeland and start our life together. The last four years of my life have been the best I have ever had. Its because I have had Kate by my side. She is truly my best friend as well as my other half. We have seen a lot together, gone through a lot together, and there is no one else I would rather have by my side. So on June 22nd 2021 I asked Kate to marry me. We were in Cape Cod on vacation aka a trip to ask her to marry me. We were on a remote beach with no one else around, I got down and asked her It was beautiful.

Kate's version.....

It was the end of my junior year of college, I was in Nursing school. I stopped at a local liquor store once in a while and noticed a cute guy behind the counter. I began to stop in more frequently and stay longer to chat. I wasn't looking for anything serious but his smile was infectious. One night a friend and I stopped in and ended up staying the whole night. We had so much fun that night, we laughed, joked and even ordered a pizza. Nick asked me what I wanted on my pizza, when I told him mushroom and peperoni he was shocked because that was his favorite too. He took me home that night, I wasn't sure he was that into me but I went for it anyway. The night ended with a perfect kiss. After that we went on a couple dates here and there. I had never been treated so well by a guy. From the moment I met Nick I knew that it was different with him. We could be doing anything and I was purely happy. I knew that this wasn't just another guy, this could be something special. As the end of my senior year approached and I had already accepted a job in Grand Rapids I was weary that our relationship would survive the distance but I was so wrong. We visited each other every other weekend for a little over a year. No matter how much I saw him I always wanted more. Most of you probably know that I was scared of commitment but not this time. We began looking at houses in the Freeland area and at first it felt like a unobtainable fairytale. I realized that he was serious about starting our life together and it became reality. We bought a beautiful home together and I made the big jump for a man I loved more than anything. I wasn't nervous at all because I knew that Nick was my person. Everyone always says the first year of living with someone is the hardest but I have never had more fun. Getting to be with your best friend every single day, nothing beats it. Until June 22nd, we were in cape cod walking on a beach just the two of us, Nick gets down on one knee and asks me to marry him. I was so surprised but so blissfully happy. Easiest question of my life. I get to spend forever loving you, laughing with you, and building a beautiful life with you by myside.

Travel

Hampton Inn & Suites Bay City

Comfort Inn Bay City-Riverfront

Courtyard by Marriott Bay City