Well, Shelby says it started in Rome because that sounds more romantic. Trevor will let you know it technically “started” with a Facebook DM.

Shelby was initially supposed to study in Italy during spring semester of her junior year, but was offered a last-minute opportunity to intern at NBC’s 30 Rock in NYC (you didn’t think we would get through this without mentioning that, did you?) and decided to study abroad that summer instead. Little did she know that “yes” to changing plans would lead to meeting her future husband.

Since she wasn’t on campus that spring, Shelby didn’t get to meet any of the fellow Spartans she would study abroad with, but she did receive a list of names from her professor in case she wanted to coordinate flights with other students. Naturally, she messaged a boy with one of the cutest profile pictures to ask if he wanted to book a flight together. Naturally, he said “yes.”

Two months later, they locked eyes across the crowds at the DTW airport. Trevor and his friend, Connor, walked up to Shelby and, instantly, they the two could not stop talking (a theme from the start). While walking onto the plane Connor whispered, “Shelby’s eating up that enthusiasm”…and he was right.

They flirted non-stop for the first three weeks while exploring Italy and shared their first kiss in a Trastevere back alley after Trevor gave one of his infamous “pep talks” before a night out. Shoutout to “Euro shot night” at G-Bar for the liquid courage. When Shelby found out it was Trevor who anonymously donated new foosball and ping pong tables to the refugee center they volunteered at in Italy, she knew she was really falling for him. Dinner dates alongside the Tiber River, holding hands at the Italian opera, kisses in front of the Trevi Fountain, dancing the night away in Florence and long talks on the steps of Shelby’s old apartment filled the rest of the trip. It was a Lizzie-McGuire-What-Dreams-Are-Made-Of summer.

The first thing Trevor told his parents when he got back to the U.S. was “I found this amazing girl and I’m going to date her.” He asked Shelby to be his girlfriend by listing the "top then things she was 'elite' at", the tenth being his girlfriend...“that is if she wanted to be?” It was the second best “yes” she ever said.

From 21st birthday parties, formals and tailgates, to trips with each other’s families and Friendsgivings before they could cook...to Rama days, Crunchy’s karaoke nights and always stopping for a game at Pinball Pete’s and pizza on the way home...to taking very long walks around the MOST BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS IN THE WORLD, they fell deeply in love throughout their senior year at Michigan State.

They both received job offers they couldn’t refuse, and after graduation Shelby moved to Chicago while Trevor moved to Newport Beach. There were many tears as goodbye gifts were exchanged, with Trevor making Shelby a montage of their first year together to their song “Something Just Like This” and Shelby giving him a series of letters a la “open when you’re excited,” “open when you miss me” and “open if you need reassurance about us.”

Despite the 2021 miles between them, they grew up and grew closer together during the 20 months they were long distance. They met up in California, Chicago, NYC, Vegas, Washington, Michigan and anywhere they could find flights on their entry level job budgets.

While it was -55 degrees in January 2019, their world felt much warmer because Trevor moved to Chicago. Extravagant homemade Valentine’s Day dinner traditions began, kitchen dance parties and movie nights ensued, and the summer was filled with concerts, beach volleyball and even a Backstreet Boys birthday serenade. With the city truly feeling like home for them both, they moved in together in 2020…amidst two national crises which caused them to live on a box of mac n’ cheese for three days (but that’s a story for another time).

In 2021, without 2021 miles between them anymore, Trevor pulled out one of the letters Shelby had written four years earlier as he got down on one knee at a beautiful winery during what was disguised as a birthday trip to Sonoma. He ripped the envelope titled “open when you need reassurance about us,” letting Shelby know he knew he would never need reassurance about the fact that they were meant for one another. Trevor said he was never more certain about anything in his entire life, and asked Shelby to marry him. It was the definite best “yes” she ever said.

Shelby and Trevor are thrilled to begin this next chapter of their love story, and so grateful to all their friends and family who are coming to their city to help celebrate their “yes” to forever.