Dawson and Arianna met during college through a mutual friend, Kate, who—thanks to relentless persistence and what we now suspect was a bit of matchmaking genius—insisted on inviting Dawson to a game night at Arianna’s apartment in late February 2022. Arianna, being a bit... let’s say, particular about the guest list, wasn’t thrilled about new people crashing her carefully planned evening. But the mutual friend won that debate (they’re now in law school, so make of that what you will), and Dawson showed up. At first, Arianna didn’t really notice Dawson—she was too busy hosting and making sure everything ran smoothly. What she did notice was that someone didn’t eat the food she prepared, and yes, that someone was Dawson. Not a great start. But after that night, Dawson reached out to let Arianna know he got home safely. That message sparked a coffee meet-up... which turned into a longer conversation... which turned into Dawson skipping class to keep talking. Shortly after, Dawson returned to Arianna's apartment to cook her dinner. It was not a great recipe—but it became one of their most meaningful memories, and they’ve made that same not-so-great meal every Valentine’s Day or anniversary since, as a reminder of how far they’ve come (and how much better they've gotten at cooking). Not long after, over more coffee, Arianna tried to friend-zone Dawson. Dawson, ever the realist, told her: “It’s better to try and it not work out than to not try at all.” Apparently, that line works—because they’ve been together ever since. From there, the days blurred into hikes, coffee dates, baking experiments, endless conversations, and competitive rounds of Trouble with Arianna’s college roommate and best friend, Sarah. Eventually, after Dawson completed his Master’s and Arianna finished her Bachelor’s, they moved to St. Louis. In October 2024, they returned to Southern Illinois for a fall getaway, and Dawson proposed at Alto Vineyards winery. And now, they can’t wait to celebrate the next step in their story—with all of you.