The bride grew up in Midland, Michigan with her parents, Fran and Tracy, and sister, Kaitlyn. Her love of the outdoors, especially in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (U.P.), grew as Emilee and Kaitlyn spent summers in Houghton at the family "camp" with her grandparents. Michigan Tech seemed like the natural choice for college after graduating high school in 2012. Since the outdoors and nature were a passion for Emilee, a Forestry degree was the path she chose. She landed a career with Consumers Energy as a Utility Forester out of Cadillac, Michigan.

The groom grew up in North Kingstown, Rhode Island and Marinette, Wisconsin with his awesome parents, John and Sherry, and his two incredible sisters, Courtney and Abby. Growing up, Nathan enjoyed playing hockey and football as well as hunting and fishing with his dad and his buddies. Nathan double majored in Forestry and Wildlife Management at Michigan Tech, furthering his love for all things outdoors and introducing him to the future love of his life, Emilee. Thankfully, Nathan had two very wise sisters to advise and guide him in winning over Emilee’s heart. Nathan now works for the Department of Natural Resources as a Forest Fire Officer in Kalkaska, Michigan. When he’s not fighting fires and saving the forests, Nathan spends his spare time hunting, fishing, playing guitar, coaching high school football, and running the @Last_Bend_Angling Instagram account.

Both Emilee and Nathan studied Forestry at Michigan Tech, and remember first meeting in "Vegetation of North America" freshman year. Many more classes together led to a solid friendship over the years, some of their favorite moments include 3rd year Fall Camp classes at the Ford Center, working for the U.S. Forest Service in Walden, Colorado and numerous hunting, trapping, and fishing excursions.

It wasn't until the last semester of their senior year when Emilee asked Nathan to her sorority's date function event in February 2016.

Nathan and Emilee had previously gone fishing at the Ausable River near Mio that summer of 2016. When plans for New Year's included visiting Emilee's grandparents in Mio, he knew he wanted to return to a place that held special meaning to both of them. At Thanksgiving, Nathan had asked for Emilee's parents blessing (which they gave!). With the help of family friend, Morgan, Nathan and Emilee made the trip into town to take a walk by the river. What began as a wintertime photo shoot with the freshly fallen snow, turned into a moment neither would forget as Nathan got down on one knee and asked Emilee to marry him. She said yes, and they returned to her grandparent's house for a celebration carrying over into the New Year.