On May 6th, 2021, I went out to a bar with my friend to celebrate her 21st birthday. While we were there, a guy came up to me and introduced himself as Nolan. After talking for a bit, he asked if I would let him take me on a nice date. I said yes, thinking he wouldn't actually follow through -- but I was wrong.

One week later, Nolan took me to Moerlein Lager House. On our first date, we bonded over how we have been to the same city, Breckenridge Colorado, and how we were both going into the healthcare field. In fact, we talked for so long that I don’t think we even ordered our food for forty five minutes. I had never bonded and gotten along with someone so fast. Our next few dates included cabrewing, a pool party, and eventually skydiving. After we went skydiving, Nolan asked me to be his girlfriend. Not gonna lie, I was reluctant. I told him that I did not have much time for dating because of nursing school coming up in the fall and I was currently in a summer class. Also, I was never that big into dating; I liked my time to myself. But I decided to give it a shot, and little did I know that would be one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Over the years with our trips to Chicago, Myrtle Beach, Asheville, and Red River Gorge, I have gotten to see the adventurous, compassionate, and silly side of him. We have done so much already on those trips from ice skating, going to the beach, to hiking eleven miles in the rain. My favorite trip was to Asheville, North Carolina. This is a trip I had planned out for him for his 27th birthday. I had planned each day meticulously but he told me that one of the days he wanted to take me somewhere in the morning and that it was a surprise. He took me to the Biltmore Estate, and we walked around the gardens for a bit. Nolan then asked someone to take our picture under a beautiful arch in the middle of one of the gardens. As I was looking at the picture on my phone of us that this stranger had taken, I turned around to him and there he was, down on one knee.

I am forever grateful that Nolan and I met and that we get to build a life together. He is who I look to when I need motivation but also who I can lean on for support. He has always been there for me, from my accomplishments to when I am struggling. I am incredibly excited to marry Nolan and see where the rest of this crazy life takes us, and if I have to go through it with anyone I am blessed that it is him.

L&N

Wedding Day