Success! Belle said yes!

Belle and Nolan started dating at the end of Belles freshmen year of college... Pictured above are a couple of very important first-date photos:

(top left) is their first date! Belle and Nolan went to yum! Kitchen and Bakery. Afterwards, Belle showed Nolan some of her piano skills in the Buetow Auditorium.

Nolan: “I remember getting a warm feeling on that first date. Especially when we decided to go back to CSP and sit down at the piano. Sitting two abroad on a piano bench felt intimate and fun. Belle is a very gifted pianist. Her passion for music is one of the qualities that attracted me to her in the first place. She really swept me away.”

Did you know yum! was not the first place Nolan tried to take Belle on their first date? Nolans original plan was to take her to Zait & Zaatar because neither of them had ever tried Mediterranean food before. It was only upon their arrival to the restaurant that he realized they were closed for Ramadan! At a loss for what to do, Nolan lead Belle on a wandering stroll while trying desperately to think of what to do next. Thankfully, they came upon yum! and the rest became history. This first date set a precedent of Nolan making a plan, the plan collapsing in a spectacular fashion, and him trying to find something else last minute.

Nolan: “I think Belle would say I pulled it off most of the time. She might not be willing to admit it, but I’d say she finds my planning style endearing.”

(top right) is Valleyfair! Belle and Nolan LOVE amusement parks. Through the summer, you can often find them going on roller coaster rides while trying to stay cool.

(bottom left) is a Twins Game! Belle had never been to a Twins game, so Nolan offered to take her. It was a lot of fun even though it started raining cats and dogs toward the end of the game.

Belle: “Often times, we would go to ValleyFair or other events like seeing the Twins play with more than just each other. I loved seeing how Nolan interacted and treated others with kindness, positivity, and goofiness.”

(bottom right) is Springlake Park! Belle and Nolan would go to that park in Rosemount, MN to read the Bible together, get to know each other, and walk around. It is truly a beautiful place.