In the spring of 2018, we met through a mutual college friend the day before Rachael moved home from Ferris for the summer. Our first date was on June 15th shortly after, and we spent the rest of the summer making memories and getting to know each other. Charlie officially asked Rachael out on August 25th, and after moving back to Big Rapids in the fall for school, we became inseparable and saw each other nearly every day the entire school year.

We had an absolute blast together and hit as many concerts, comedy shows, and experiences as we could (on a college budget, anyways), falling in love along the way.

Rachael graduated and we prepared for two years of long distance while Charlie finished school.

2019 involved many road trips driving the 372-mile roundtrip to see each other whenever we could.

Covid happened and the relationship turned into both long distance AND socially distanced.

Rachael dropped a hint.

We got as creative as we could with outdoor dates in between quarantines.

Charlie graduated and finally came home.

2021 was a year of navigating our first real adult jobs and a still-crazy world. A highlight was a surprise trip to Chicago Charlie planned including a comedy show, light festival at the Lincoln Park Zoo, a spin around the Navy Pier ferris wheel, scootering around the city, and a trip to The Office Experience (based on Rachael's favorite TV show)!

A summer of weddings and house hunting.

We finally moved into our first home together on Kenrich Ave in Brighton.

Impulse trip to Vegas!

We finally bought a home on July 7, 2023! The move happened in September and we got to work making it our own.

A fall and winter full of memories in our new home.

Charlie proposed February 10th, 2024 in Indian Shores Beach, FL on a Milkey family trip. It was perfect.

Crowd went wild, champagne was popped, and Rachael said YES!

First round of engagement pictures. Thanks Andrew!

We took our first international trip together and had a little engagement-moon in Cancun, MX!

We are gearing up for a summer full of wedding planning and can't wait to see you all on October 12th!