After numerous close encounters, we became formally acquainted in 2014 during our sophomore year at Marquette. We took to each other almost immediately, and were practically inseparable in the several years that followed.

Outside of classes, we liked to explore Milwaukee together, try new restaurants and bars, take road trips, and go to concerts. David’s fondest memories are staring out at the Milwaukee River and trying to make Liz laugh. We were also dog sitters in the local community.

In 2016, we graduated and moved into our first apartment together, but it was short lived as we temporarily moved to Boston, MA only a few months later following Liz’s job opportunity. Liz flew out immediately and, a few weeks later, David took a U-Haul of all their belongings on the 16-hour drive across the country to join her. The best part of living in Boston was being able to be closer to Liz’s extended family.

We were excited to move back to Milwaukee in December of 2017 pursuing new job opportunities for the both of us. It can only be described as fate that we then met the love of our lives, Scarlet, outside of a pet shop while grabbing coffee. We adopted her in July of 2018.

There was some simplicity to life for those next couple years! Liz continued her career in manufacturing, moving specifically into the food space, and David was using his communications degree in a logistics role. We took our dream vacation to Hawaii together, David picked up painting, Liz frequented $5 blackjack tables at the casino, and we realized that we had a sushi addiction (for which we are now in recovery).

We survived the COVID-19 pandemic unscathed due to already having spent Olympic-levels of nonstop time together for nearly six years prior. To stay sane, Liz picked up making To Do lists and David leaned more into his art. We bravely watched all 40 seasons of Survivor. Scarlet spent most days staring out from her throne in our fourth story apartment watching people fight outside the Subway sandwich shop.

In May of 2021, Liz began working at a pet food company to combine her past work experience with her passion for pets. She insisted David must come join the fun and he did in November of 2021, where he is now pursuing his career in IT. Scarlet loved Mom & Dad’s new job because she could come, too. In the midst of all of this, we found our starter home in the Milwaukee suburbs in July of 2021 to give Scarlet the backyard she had always wanted.

Almost exactly four years after Scarlet’s adoption, a nearly identical pup with a scary-similar backstory appeared in our lives. We adopted her and named her Ruby in July of 2022.

Can you believe we haven’t gotten to the engagement part yet? In September of 2022, David asked Liz to marry him in the company of friends at the Lion’s Den Gorge in Grafton, WI. Liz had known the answer was yes for 8 years.

Now, Liz and David want to celebrate their marriage with you after more than a decade of being in love. Thank you for being a part of our collective story!