It all started on June 26, 2021, the day Lulu decided it was time for me to meet someone. We were officially “on the hunt,” as she liked to say. That night, during the College World Series, we found ourselves at the beer garden at the Old Mattress Factory, where we crossed paths with Nik and his friend. (Fun fact: Nik had just moved to Omaha a little earlier that day, talk about perfect timing!) From the moment we started talking, we clicked instantly. A few nights later, we went on our first date at The Local. Lulu happened to be nearby and dropped in to check on us, so we even have a photo of our first date! And that was just the beginning of our adventure together.

From the very start, our time together has been a mix of laughter, learning, and adventure, sometimes big, sometimes cozy. We started dating while in grad school, so a lot of our early days were spent studying side by side. When we weren’t buried in textbooks, we went on long walks around our neighborhood and to Memorial Park, watched Lancer games (Nik was interning with the team), and explored new restaurants whenever we could. We also love going to Standing Bear and Zorinsky Lake where I paddleboard, Nik fishes, and we soak up the sunshine whenever the weather is nice. When it’s cooler, we hunker down at home: I knit, Nik crochets, and we both curl up with a good book. Throughout it all, we’ve spent so much time with our family and friends, laughing, celebrating, and making memories together. In 2023, our lives hit a big milestone together: Nik graduated from AT school in the summer, I finished PA school in the winter, and we both started our careers around the same time, officially launching our next chapter still side by side. That year, we also became an aunt and uncle for the first time, and we’ve discovered that these are two of our favorite titles.

Nik’s birthday trip to the mountains turned out to be the start of our next big adventure. On our drive to Colorado, he detoured through Wyoming, which immediately made me suspicious. Just as we were approaching the state line between Wyoming and Colorado and winding into the mountains, Nik pulled over. In a private, quiet moment surrounded by the beauty of the mountains, he proposed with my grandma’s ring. The ring holds so much meaning: my grandpa gave it to her on her 60th birthday, just one month before I was born. About a year after we started dating, he offered the ring to Nik and me. That blessing and the trust of passing down something so precious made the moment even more incredible, and it’s a reminder that makes our engagement and marriage feel even more special every day. We kept the exciting news just between us until we arrived at his parents’ house in Denver, where we shared the big update in person. Later that evening, we drove up to Breckenridge and told my family over ice cream (though they’d already suspected something was up and were waiting at the door as soon as we arrived!). It was so special to be able to tell both of our families in person on the same day, despite living so far apart. We spent the weekend celebrating in Breckenridge and Frisco with both families, reveling in our new titles of fiancés. After everyone left, we had a few quiet, blissful days just the two of us, soaking in the mountain views, the gorgeous weather, and the joy of being engaged. The trip ended perfectly with a long walk around Lake Dillon on Nik’s birthday, one of the best weeks ever.

We’ve loved this chapter of our lives, planning our wedding together has been such a joy! Nik has been fully in the mix, from helping pick our venue (which he insists earns him lifelong bragging rights) to weighing in on all the little details along the way. We feel so lucky to be surrounded by friends and family who have paved the way before us and have been incredible resources. It’s been so fun not just to plan a wedding, but to plan our marriage, building a life together filled with laughter, love, and a little bit of teamwork along the way.

We love to travel together! It's one of our favorite ways to explore, connect, and make memories. Our first trip was a whirlwind weekend getaway to New York City during grad school, sandwiched between an exam on Friday morning and another on Monday! Despite the tight turnaround, we packed in all the essentials: Times Square, a private visit to the Statue of Liberty (Nik loves it for many reasons, including The New Collosus poem by Emma Lazarus), MoMA to see Starry Night, time with family, and a beautiful family wedding. A year later, we returned to NYC during our summer break for a special Van Gogh exhibit at the Met, seeing Starry Night again along with other special Van Gogh paintings and the other stunning sculptures and paintings at the museum. We also enjoyed more family time, the Blue Man Group, the American History Museum, and revisited the Statue of Liberty and Times Square. Because Nik’s work schedule aligns with school breaks, we get to take spring break trips for life! In spring 2025, we took a truly special trip to Arizona. We stayed with Nik’s grandma in Phoenix and loved every moment with her. We also got to spend quality time with our uncles who live in the area. From there, we drove up to Sedona, a place with deep family significance (named after Nik’s great-great-grandmother, Sedona Schnebly). It was my first time there, and we spent our mornings hiking, evenings enjoying local restaurants, and soaking up the stunning scenery and history. That same spring, we also visited Washington, DC for a family wedding, exploring the monuments and Smithsonian museums along the way. This summer, we're off to Europe for our honeymoon! While there, we’ll spend time in Austria for one of my dear friends’ weddings. We can't wait to soak up the sights, culture, and adventures together.

I’ve wanted to marry Nik for nearly as long as I’ve known him, and it’s hard to believe the day is almost here! It’s truly special to have our friends and family all in one place to celebrate with us. We can’t wait to share the best day of our lives surrounded by the people we love most.