Before Mike Dugar and Monae Taylor fell in love and pledged to spend the rest of their lives together, they were just two young adults from Seattle trying to navigate life in Pullman, Washington. They met in the winter of 2016. Monae was a Washington State University student, Mike a recent graduate working in the area. On the night of January 15, 2016, Mike and Monae met at a party on campus and immediately clicked. The part of matchmaker was played by Monae’s best friend, Kaila Burgess, who DJ’d the party. It went like this.

Mike: I’d like to make a request.

Kaila: I don’t take requests.  

Mike: My request is to dance with your friend.

Kaila: Ohhhh, ok!

Kaila relayed the message, Mike and Monae danced all night and then spent most of the next day watching the NFL playoffs -- the start of many, many days spent watching football together. The next few months featured countless Facetime calls, late night Jack in the Box runs and way too many mirror selfies.

After losing touch for about a year, Mike and Monae reconnected in November 2017 while they were both living in Seattle. A Dave & Busters date (where Mike won in pop-a-shot, despite a fuzzy memory on Monae’s part) rekindled a flame that has stayed burning ever since as they’ve shared memories together with walks along the beach in Los Angeles, boat rides in Miami, nightclubs in Houston, dinners in Mexico and pub-hopping in Germany. In Deutschland is where they learned that in the summer of 2023, they’d welcome into the world their daughter, Destyn Skyy Dugar. She was born on July 20th.

On May 20th, 2023, during a party celebrating the 25th wedding anniversary of Mike’s parents, Michael and Kelly Dugar, Mike ended the night by pausing the music, addressing the crowd, and, with Monae standing by his side, asking the most important question of both their lives.

“Monae, will you marry me?”