We met on Tinder in July 2021—thank you, modern romance! After a week of chatting, we decided to meet in person for our first date in Holland, Michigan. We had dinner at New Holland Brewing Co., both of us incredibly nervous and barely touching our food. During the small talk, I learned something unexpected—Derek wasn’t even living in Michigan at the time! He was working as an electrician in Mississippi and just home visiting family and friends for a few weeks.

I’ll admit, I didn’t think it would go anywhere. I was still in Allendale finishing my undergrad, and he was about to head back south. But after dinner, we watched the sunset at Holland State Park, and something shifted. Before the weekend ended, Derek had a wild idea: he invited me to join him and his family who were camping in Reed City. What my parents might call a questionable decision turned out to be the best one I’ve ever made.

We spent the weekend getting to know each other, and everything just clicked. From that point on, we made it work—despite the distance. I visited him in Mississippi often, and thanks to COVID, most of my classes were online, which made it easier to travel. Eventually, Derek moved back to Michigan, and we got our first apartment together in Grand Rapids. That’s when our real adventure began.

Over the past four years, we’ve built a life full of love, laughter, and unforgettable memories. We’ve traveled together, spent time with each other’s families, and grown stronger through every season of life.

In May of 2025, Derek proposed on the beach during our trip to Mexico—one of the most magical moments of our journey so far.

And now, here we are. We’re so excited to celebrate this next chapter with all of you and can’t wait to see where life takes us next.