Andrew and Lauren’s journey together began through a mutual friend, and what started as simple conversations quickly blossomed into something neither of them expected. For six months, Andrew and Lauren Facetimed every night. Those late-night chats became their favorite part of each day, and over time, they grew from strangers to best friends. It was a connection they both looked forward to, something they couldn’t wait to continue.

Andrew asked Lauren to be his date to a wedding he was attending that summer. This invitation ultimately led her to move back to Minnesota for the summer, and she will never forget about the excitement she had when she was asked! But before that, their first in-person meeting happened during spring break in Florida. Lauren drove her best friend's car to pick Andrew up from the airport at midnight—just to hang out for a quick 30 minutes before he went to join his friends. It was a spontaneous and unforgettable moment, the start of so many more memories.

Over the next year and a half, Andrew and Lauren navigated a long-distance relationship that took them to different places—Lauren in Louisiana, where she played volleyball at Louisiana Tech, and Andrew in Minnesota, where he played hockey at Bethel University. They made countless trips to visit each other, exploring new places and sharing special moments, like their trip to Maui to celebrate Lauren’s brother’s graduation, and even traveling to Brazil to attend a close friend's wedding.

Through it all, Andrew and Lauren never lost their connection. Lauren fondly remembers the late-night wing runs when she worked as a waitress and Andrew worked as a PCA at the hospital. After their shifts, they would meet up in the hospital parking lot to eat 4 lbs of wings and laugh about the day. Those moments, simple yet meaningful, became the foundation of their relationship.

The proposal came in December 2024, during the Christmas season. Lauren flew to Hawaii for a week to spend time with her family, and afterward, she headed to Minnesota to visit Andrew before returning to Louisiana. Little did she know, Andrew had a surprise planned. Her cousin picked her up at the airport and took her to Alexandria for what she thought was a Christmas date night. They decided to skip gifts and just enjoy each other’s company, but the evening turned out to be much more. They went for a walk at Carlos State Park, where Andrew told Lauren that the park rangers lit campfires on weekends to keep visitors warm—though it turned out, it was really his dad who did it! After a quiet walk, they reached the fire, where Andrew asked Lauren to marry him. They celebrated with dinner and shared the moment with their families.

What makes their relationship truly unique is that they spent much of it long-distance, which allowed them to really get to know each other on a deeper level before jumping into dating. Their faith is incredibly important to both of them, and it’s that shared commitment that has helped them love each other in the deepest way. Both families have been incredibly supportive, embracing them with open arms from the very beginning.

We are so excited to start this next chapter of our lives together and can’t wait to celebrate with all of you!