Our story begins with the meeting of two people...obviously.

The set up: We were set up by two people who love to take credit for us getting together and honestly it worked out so well we will let them have it! When Darcy, Maggie's sister, reached out and said 'hey my coworker and I were talking on 3rd shift the other night, and she knows this guy...' Grant was getting a similar set up from his friend April about Maggie. We agreed to exchange numbers and that was where our story began. So, to those who get part of the credit for Grant and I, Darcy and April, we thank you.

The meet up: We had our first date in Cedar Rapids at a local restaurant. I remember Grant offering a closer location to 380 as he joked with me that I might need a quick exit to head home. While it is usually nerve racking to meet someone on a first 'nearly blind' date he did not in fact scare me away.

Everything in the middle: After that first date we couldn't get enough of seeing each other. Grant was living in Cedar Rapids at the time, and I was in Waterloo. With an hour of distance between us we got good at making the most of our time together on the weekends. We also took advantage of long weekends and trips away. We cherished all the face-to-face time we could get, and our relationship blossomed from there.

The Proposal: Oh what a day! We went on a date one lovely afternoon to Pheasant Run Farm, in Belle Plaine. There was a large sunflower maze to walk through and several spots where you could step up and see above the sunflower field in all its beauty. On one of the last areas where you could step up and look above the entire field Grant set up his phone to take a picture and got down on one knee and proposed. There was much surprise, excitement, and nerves. We spent the whole car ride home telling our family and friends the good news!

What's next: Wedding planning is under way, and we are looking forward to sharing the day with you, our family and friends. The countdown is on to the day we get to call each other husband and wife and we can't wait!

Urbana Inn & Suites

Cobblestone Inn & Suites - Vinton, IA