We had such a fun time writing this section together! Vern’s input is in italics and Nick’s input is bolded.

As I like to say it, we truly found love in a hopeless place - CowBoy Slims in Uptown, Minneapolis. On the night we met, Saturday, November 23rd, 2019, we both had a strong feeling that we met “the one.” However, looking back at it now, our first date to Red Cow the following Monday was the moment we both knew we would be spending the rest of our lives together.

We became boyfriend and girlfriend a mere 4 days after meeting, at the VFW in Prior Lake, Minnesota, on the night before Thanksgiving. A few months later, Nick moved in with me into our 600 sq foot apartment in Uptown. And a few weeks after that, COVID happened. I believe a true testament to our relationship was the ability to live together in a tiny apartment during a global pandemic, while showing each other grace and understanding, and making the best out of a less than ideal situation.

As the saying goes, the rest is history. We made the decision to move to St. Paul, Minnesota to “slow down” from the hustle and bustle of Minneapolis - it was one of the best decisions we ever made. We bought our house in April 2022 and became *official* St. Paul residents - we truly <3 St. Paul. I knew it was time to confirm what we had known since our first date, asking the love of my life to spend forever together, and officially turn my best friend from girlfriend into fiancé. We got engaged on July 23, 2022 - a whole other story in and of itself, but Nick took me to one of my favorite places, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and asked me to marry him. He planned to have our families meet us at Parley Winery after and our friends to celebrate with us later in the evening at Aster Cafe (two of our favorite spots.) It was truly the best day of my - our - life. I did good!

Nick truly is the best thing to ever happen to me and each and every day I fall more and more in love with him - something I didn’t think was possible. Vern is my everything. I am so proud of where we have been, so happy of where we are now, and so excited for where we are going. Throughout thick and thin, his caring and empathetic nature, along with his humor and charisma, remains consistent. Her passion for life, motivation, and big heart are just a few qualities about her that have helped me become a better man and fiancé (soon to be husband) every day.

We cannot wait for forever together and we are so excited to celebrate our love and marriage with you on August 10, 2024!