Early January 2013 at Eastern Michigan University, a young and strapping Senator Matt Ventura approached the Student Government Clerk, Nikki Barron, to apologize for his agonizingly long speech that she wrote verbatim. A handshake was all it took and they both knew something was there!

A few days later, Nikki was asked to run the popcorn machine for the university's free movie night. While explaining that she would do it but had no prior experience, an eavesdropping Matt chimed in offering his company and expertise. She didn't learn until much later that he wasn't sure of what he was doing but was determined to make it work to spend time with her.

After two weeks of nights spent talking until four in the morning, he decided he would take a chance on making it official. His roommates and friends tried to discourage this idea, saying that it was too early and Matt was risking scaring her away. But shortly after midnight on February 1, 2013, Matt asked Nikki to be his girlfriend. There was only a second of hesitation from Nikki considering she had only known him a short amount of time, but decided to jump in and embrace the excitement surrounding the new relationship.

The end of April 2013, right before Nikki was about to depart back to Montana for the summer she took a risk and said "I love you" first before turning away in tears to start her 2000 mile journey. He would say it soon after and although it seemed to be moving quickly for them both, they knew something was there and it was beginning to blossom. (There are rumors that there may have been a somewhat inebriated mumbling of those fatal words at an earlier date by one of them...but the world may never know!)

Through the next few years they survived dating long distance, grueling school work, job after job after job, dive meet after dive meet after dive meet, and apartment after apartment after apartment, before deciding to move into their humble little abode. Moving in was a little controversial to those who knew them but Matt and Nikki knew that it was what they both wanted and they were prepared to face the fresh challenges presented by sharing space on a more consistent basis.

Lo and behold, it must have worked! Together, with their pup Nala, Matt and Nikki felt like a little family and their bond only grew stronger. There have been bumps along the way. They admit to being far from perfect but perfect for each other. On October 2, 2015, at Argeiros, a beautiful Italian restaurant in Ann Arbor, and after a few glasses of wine, Matt summoned the courage to get down on one knee and ask Nikki to spend the rest of her life with him. The courage was unnecessary, the answer was easy and without hesitation she said YES!!

Now the madness of wedding planning and details by the hundreds are starting to consume any spare moments they may have. But the love and dedication they share for each other is unmatched. This union, although it will be made official in 2017, began years ago with a mere handshake and the spark between two people who have grown together in a way that brings tears to my eyes. As I look back at our story, I am so enveloped in the love that we share and the thought alone that I get to marry my best friend!

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