John and I met through our mutual friends Hunter and Lindsey Nelson. On June 23rd, 2018, we went to Hunter's college house to hang out with Hunter and Lindsey, John's friends (and now mine!) Tallie and Mason, and my friend Erika. A few bars and tequila shots later, we ended up staying up all night talking to each other. Although I could never admit it at the time, after that night I could never shake the thought that we had something special. We talked at a few parties in Whitewater throughout our senior year in college. Our friends were convinced we were meant for each other, but with John at Augustana and myself at Whitewater, nothing came of it.

The summer after we graduated, John and I were groomsman and bridesmaid at the Nelson's wedding. Months after the fact, John and I both admitted that we couldn't keep our eyes off each other the whole night. Despite the fact that John never asked me to dance, he did ask me on a date at the end of the night. The rest is history!

John proposed about a year and a half later. He booked a private tour to climb to the top of the Racine Lighthouse. When we got to the top, he told me that this was the spot where he first knew he wanted to marry me when we had walked around the area the year before. He got down on his knee, asked me to marry him, and gave me a beautiful ring with his great-grandmother's diamond. I said yes!

We are so excited to celebrate our marriage with all of you!