Cincinnati Art Museum

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

RECEPTION

Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati

After Wedding!

Spring

Our Wedding

Ethan and I have actually known each other pretty much our entire lives. Our families had a mutual friend that we would both spend time at, mostly with our Dad's, and they would work on cars and motorcycles together with said mutual friend. Neither of us actually realized this until much later, funnily enough.We met again in 8th grade, we shared a science class together and had a few mutual friends, but we never really spoke to each other. He was usually messing around in class and me, I had my nose buried in a book half the time (this actually hasn't changed much.) We were assigned to work on a project together for said science class and that was really the only time we had talked and it was pretty minimal, just enough to get the project completed, but I'll admit I liked him.9th grade, first day of school, I walked into English class and saw him across the room as I was deciding where to sit and there was a free desk in front of him, choosing that seat was one of the best decisions I've made, though I couldn't have known that at the time. We quickly developed a friendship but it was very rocky, we were constantly arguing with each other over small things and sometimes would go days or weeks without speaking more than a handful of words to each other (kids, am I right? ;) ) but the truth was we both just had really big feelings for each other and didn't know if the other returned them or how to express them. The following year (still 9th grade but the next year) we had cleared a few things up and were regularly talking and joking around with each other again and it just...felt right. My heart felt full and it felt like something that was missing in my life had fallen into place. Fast forward a month or so and we started reading Romeo and Juliet in English, one day when the class was just goofing off about to go to lunch (I can't for the life of me remember how this truly came about so don't ask) he had dared me to kiss him. I guess he thought I wouldn't but I'm not one to shy away from a dare. We came back from lunch and as we were all settling in, I was listening to Feel Good Inc. by the Gorillaz and I sat on his desk and I kissed him. He did not react one bit, dare I say he was stunned that I actually did it. After this point we had a semi-relationship, unofficially dating as it were. We held hands and kissed occasionally. I'll never forget the first time he told me he loved me, I was shocked to say the least, but I responded with 'I love you, too.' The school year ended and we both went our ways, still texting each other daily.That summer, July 12th 2014, I got two messages, one from Ethan's dad, Justin, and another from our friend Owen, asking me if I wanted to attend Bunbury festival. I said yes that I was interested and went and asked my mom, later that night they came and got me. We spent the entire night together, saw Paramore and Fallout Boy as headliners and once it was over headed back to Ethan's dads for a bit to hang out. The day after that I was with my Mom and that evening I asked her to take me to the park, Ethan and I had been texting all day talking about Bunbury and how the summer was going. I told him if he asked me out I would say yes, and that dear reader, is how we officially started dating, over a text message.We stayed together all through High School. We attended multiple music festivals together and with friends and Ethan's dad (warped tour, Rock on the Range for 2 years and so many more I cannot possibly remember them all.) We graduated in May of 2017 and moved out that same year in October, shortly after our 18th birthdays. We got our first dog, Arakiel, who is now 7. We moved apartments a year later and lived with Owen as a roommate and a year after that moved into a smaller apartment and got our second dog, Zuko, who is now 5. Two years after that, we moved into a rental house (still there currently). Finally, Ethan asked me to marry him in January of 2025 and we started wedding planning.It's not been an easy time, we have been together for Eleven years as of writing this (will be almost 12 come time for the wedding) and of course like any couple, we've had ups and downs. But we've been there for each other, supported each other through hard and intensively difficult times, and most importantly, the love has always been there and grown with each day.I couldn't imagine a life without him and can't wait for the years to come to build our lives and grow together.

Our Story

Photos

Owen has been Mykala's friend since Elementary and Ethan's best friend since Middle School

Owen Cusick 

Sam had been a friend of Mykala and Ethan for several years, first introduced through a mutual friend 

Sam Walling 

Ethan's cousin (they share the same birthday!) 

Ashton Hoeter

Dayne Hoeter 

Mykala's best friend since senior year of High school

Jostlen Chamberlin 

Shaylin has been a friend since Middle school and all throughout High school

Shaylin Ogle 

Nimue Duncan

Chloe Mitchell 

Arabella Rack 

Jostlen's daughter, she will be walking with her Father Jake

Clover Carlson

Shaylin's son, he will be carried by his Father, Kenny

Kaeson Ogle

Wedding Party

Q + A

Travel

Things to Do

Registry

Please contact Mykala with your dinner selections if you have not responded to the question in the RSVP section!Cell: 513-505-0230Email: mykala.helderbrand@outlook.com Dinner Options:Lemon and Thyme Roasted Chicken in a Citrus Beurre BlancORHerb Crusted Filet Topped with Garlic Butter and a Red Wine Demi-Glace Appetizers (available for everyone no selection required):Ahi Tuna SpoonTomato Caprese SkewersCheddar Puff Pastry

Mykala & Ethan

Mykala & Ethan

Q + A

When can I arrive at the venue?

Can I bring my own drinks/alcohol?

Will there be a gallery to view while we wait for the reception to start?

Can I make song requests to the DJ?

What is the dress code?