Hailey & Tom were two college kids who happened upon one another at a mutual friend’s party on Torch Lake. Overwhelmed by one another and equally shocked the other could handle their sarcasm and wit, the two of us started to have late phone calls every night. Our families were introduced to one another that summer. The long-distance continued through college, and the commute between Kalamazoo and Hillsdale became a regular weekend occurrence. After graduation, we emphasized the importance of family and growing together, and things became about more than just dating. She wanted to be near her family, while he wanted to be anywhere that she was. We moved in together in January of 2018, and quickly realized that it was getting even more serious. That happens when you need to share responsibilities: doing the dishes (he is so damn particular), vacuuming (man, she vacuumed a lot) and then sharing that very clean apartment with those same friends for many fun evenings. A little family began when we got Ozzie. Then came the spring of 2019. He went over to her parents’ house, hands and legs shaking, face ghost white, and cracked a LaBatt Blue with her dad. After 62 phone calls with our parents and countless calls with those same friends and family, the engagement party was planned—everyone was sworn to secrecy, and all she had to do was say “yes.” It was a very cool day on May 26, 2019 and the dock was as empty as we had ever seen it in the four years we had gone to Leland to walk on the dock over Memorial Day weekend. No matter: the moment was flawless, we cried, we laughed, and had the most joyful day of our relationship to date. Suddenly, things did not seem so serious anymore. On June 26, 2021 we will be married, and we are so fortunate to be able to share our day with you. You have been a part of our story from the beginning, you will continue to be a part of it for years to come, and we cannot wait to celebrate us together. Yours always, Hailey & Tom