'Twas the Summer of 2016.

Liz went to a music festival (Revival @ Harmony Park) and met some of my roommates as her weekend Camp Neighbors...

Then, along came, "The One String" (which was a magical old toy that spun a colored string around in fun patterns and had lights that you could play with to effect the visuals you would see). Liz and one of her Maids of Honor, Rachael, decided they had to go check out what weird toy the festi-neighbors were playing with and in-turn made new friends in my roommate's!

In the most stripped-down form this innocent little contraption (The oNeeE-StriiiNG)was what brought Liz and I together.

CRAZY THINGS DO HAPPEN!

After the festival, the ladies were invited to hang out in Minneapolis where I was living at the time.

"The GRAND HOUSE." It was a fun place where a lot of fun memories and even better friends were made! Many of whom will be at the wedding. (Kevin Johnson, my groomsman, still lives there today).

-OK- back to the love story.

When she walked in, I was absolutely not looking for my life partner that night!

To be honest though, I haddd told the Universe quite recently, I was finally "ready" if she (hypothetical love of my life) was ready for me. <3

CAREFUL WHAT YA WISH FOR. LOL.

At this time, neither Liz nor I were looking for anything serious, we decided to let summer love run its course.

We then spent 1 year doing long-distance, because Liz had to finish college out East in New Jersey.

WHICH SHE DID!

Turns out we really liked each other or somethinggg because I don't think either of us thought we would ACTUALLY make it through that year of distance. But we DID do it.

:) SOOO GLAD WE DID!

Once she moved home to MN, we enjoyed bike rides, kayaking, music festivals, pontooning at the Maple lake house, and many other travels!

We are currently living at Maple Lake to save money for a house of our own. Additionally, we are on the look -out for a truck for our Camper we were so generously gifted (THANKS KEVIN AND RACHEL) and spent last summer restoring.

THANKS BETTE AND MIKE FOR SHARING YOUR HOME!!!!

We've had some really fun travels and experience's so far in our relationship and can't wait for more together!

Along with the good, so comes LIFE and its' many trials and experience's to help us grow stronger... I truly believe we were paced together for a reason at the perfect timing. Together we balance and push each other to be a better unit going forward together in life.

I'm grateful to be able to have a great(courageous, stunning, bold, bad-ass) partner to challenge, grow, and change for the better with as we navigate this wild and crazy world we are living in.

At the time of our marriage we will have been together for JUST STARTING ON 9 YEARS! WHOOP! CAN'T WAIT FOR MANY MORE!

- Written by Joe

-Edited by Liz