The summer me and Bennett were both at Hastings Lake Lutheran Bible Camp for (almost) the whole summer together. Bennett was a volunteer and I was a camp councilor along with Bennetts brother Christopher. I often says it is definitely to Bennett's benefit that I have literally no recollection of him being there that summer or we may have never gotten together. It wasn't until a few months into their relationship when Bennett revealed I had been his "Staff Crush" for more than one late night crush night. Way to play the long game Bennett

I (Lauren) was helping out with dishes before the dance started and Bennetts mom Manny came in to help out and we got to chatting and she asked if I had currently been seeing anyone.

" No I'm not seeing anyone right now" - L

" Well I have a nice boy you should talk to" - M

" ... Who?" - L

" Bennett ! " - M

At least that's how I remember it. I remember thinking "Christophers little brother?!? HA! "

Later at the dance I had been dancing with someone else and Maren (Bennetts sister and now my bridesmaid) said "you know who's a good dancer? Bennett!". So I started thinking Okay maybe this is a little bit intentional. But I kept catching his eyes after that until he finally came up to me to ask to dance. The first song we danced to was Tennessee Whiskey.

Lauren has let me write this part of the story (Bennett)

After the Wahls wedding, we started texting. I knew she was gonna be at Kai and Janes wedding so I got thinking, casually ask her to go out after the wedding! I had always thought Lauren was beautiful, and I`m pretty sure I had mentioned that to Maren. Anyone who was around when we had first started texting knows that I would not shut up about her. So leading up to this wedding, I ended up going up early with Maren because she had to be there for Janes Bridal party, (Lauren was also there but we awkwardly avoided each other). the next day was when the wedding prep happened, I followed Kai around to help out, but also tried every chance I could to get closer to Lauren,(didn't work). She probably thought I was weird staring at her all the time and trying to talk to her every chance I got. Skipping to the actual story, the reception. I was hoping Maren was talking me up to her before the dance started, they were sitting together after all. i was coming up with excuses to go and "chat" with Maren. I was starting to think she was not interested and trying to brush me off a little bit. When the dance started I knew it was my time to shine! I was waiting for a good song to come on. after the first dance we actually started hanging out, talking, going for short breaks outside! so I asked her if she wanted to go disc golfing the next day, she said "sure!" (it was raining the next day). At the end of the night Lauren stepped out for a second, but Laken (one of Laurens bridesmaids) told me that I did a good job that night with Lauren (Which meant she was talking about me!) So our "first date" was coffee at FIKA with some of her friends, then walking around super store, lunch at bar burrito, then ending it with a round of crib at CLBI. It went amazing! the only awkward part was whether we were gonna hug saying goodbye. But we did. Then she went back to hang with her friends, I went back to Camp for the summer and I don't think we have gone a day without talking since.

May & June 2024 I was continually heckling Bennett about how fun it would be to get engaged this summer at camp. Bennett ended up having a week off between school and camp at home and I remember bugging him that "this would've been the perfect week to go talk to my dad since you won't have another chance until after camps done" - "Oh man I totally should have done that" little did I know the ring was ordered and he was having dinner with my dad that night.

The ring came in the mail later that month in Calgary and Maren brought it down to camp. Bennett was certain he wasn't going to propose till mid July but the second he had the ring he knew he couldn't wait that long (or so he says) so that evening after me and Maren had a stressful pre-camp Costco run on a blustery June evening Bennett suggested I go with him and Maren up the ridge to check the electric fence he put up today.

Check the electric fence?? I am not sure how I fell for that.

Anyway we got close to the top of the hill. It was windy, it was rainy, it was cold. Bennett hopped out and said "Lets go to the top!" and took off running. I did not want to do that but me and Maren trudged after him. He was at the top and I said to Maren "Hey watch this I'm gonna pretend to propose to Bennett with this pinecone". She got out her camera and took photos of me looking like an idiot pledging my undying love with this pinecone.

Bennett took the pinecone out of my hand and said "Okay my turn" got down on one knee, threw the pinecone and took out the ring.

I have never been so shocked in my life but I can't think of anything so chaotic and messy and just us. The way all of this played out. From summer camp, to flirting at friends weddings to being sure what we wanted and being sure I would NOT be falling in love with Christophers little brother, is just an ongoing reminder of our imperfection and imperfect plans and Gods perfect plans for us. I am so excited to get married and so excited to have you all there to see it.

Thank you for bearing with us. God Bless.