We're Getting Married

We first met in the summer of 2023 while counseling together at Lake Ann Camp in Traverse City, Michigan. Throughout the summer, we were placed on multiple programs together and spent many weekends exploring nearby towns in group settings. What began as casual conversations and shared experiences slowly grew into a genuine friendship.

As the summer went on, we began getting to know each other more intentionally. Around week five, Aidan asked Tamara to go on a double date to the Cherry Bowl Drive-In. While the evening itself was fun, Tamara left feeling uncertain about what the relationship could become. After talking it through with Ellia on the bathroom floor of the Junior High Cabin, Tamara realized she wasn’t ready to date again. A few days later, we met by the waterfront for an honest conversation, where Tamara officially friend-zoned Aidan. Despite the awkwardness of that moment, we continued serving together on the same programs for the rest of the summer. During that time, our friendship deepened — and occasionally turned playful — with lighthearted flirting that looked more like passing ketchup packets across the dining hall than grand romantic gestures.

One of those programs was an evangelism program called Rebourne Rangers. During that week, Tamara realized she had been holding back out of fear rather than discernment. Through prayer, reflection, and the encouragement of counselor friends, her perspective began to shift. Each Friday night at camp, counselors share their relationship status with the campers. That week, Tamara shared that she was interested in Aidan — and Aidan shared the same. After an honest conversation (and a lot of grace from Aidan), we decided to continue getting to know each other after camp, with the intention of meeting each other’s families before officially dating.

After camp ended, Tamara visited Aidan in Ohio, meeting his family and college friends. Later that summer, Aidan visited Tamara in Michigan, where he met her parents and sisters. That night — at a Tigers vs. Yankees game on August 28 — Aidan asked Tamara to officially be his girlfriend. At the time, Tamara was beginning her junior year at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, majoring in Social Work, while Aidan was starting his sophomore year at Cedarville University in Ohio. For the next two years, we dated long-distance — traveling between college towns, planning visits, and spending countless hours on FaceTime.

Tamara graduated from Cornerstone in May 2025. After working a summer counseling job, she began applying for social work positions and, in September 2025, moved to Ohio after accepting a job in downtown Dayton. A new chapter began — in the same state, and finally dating in person.

After countless conversations about our future, Aidan traveled to India with his mom during fall break, where he purchased the ring. On November 23, 2026, surrounded by our family and friends, Aidan asked Tamara to marry him at John Bryan State Park — and she said yes.