We're Getting Married!

Bella and Brett first met at Parkway West High School in the spring of 2014 during their freshman year. They stayed close friends throughout all of high school, sharing the same friend group and countless memories. It wasn’t until senior year, in the fall of 2017, that their friendship began to grow into something more. On October 14, 2017, Brett took Bella to their Senior Homecoming dance, and after a few more dates, he officially asked her to be his girlfriend. Unsure of what college might bring, they decided to take a chance on each other. Their journey came with its challenges. After 10 months together, life pulled them in different directions—Brett headed to Missouri State University and Bella to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Despite the 3.5-hour distance, they visited each other about once a month, keeping their connection strong. From 2018 to 2021, they navigated the ups and downs of long-distance love. By the fall of 2021, they made the difficult decision to part ways, feeling their paths had begun to drift. Two years passed with no contact. During that time, they both entered new relationships, Bella graduated from college, and Brett completed Paramedic School. Bella often found herself wondering how Brett was doing, but never reached out, assuming their chapter had closed. Then, in July 2023, an unexpected Instagram friend request from Brett changed everything. It became clear they both still wondered if their story had more to tell. After a few months of reconnecting and casual dating, it felt as though no time had passed at all. As their relationship deepened, they realized their paths had crossed again for a reason—and this time, they were moving forward together. On December 5, 2024, Brett proposed to Bella at Wild Lights at the Zoo, one of their most cherished places. Surrounded by the magic of the season, they got engaged. They were each other’s first love, and now, their last. And so, their love story continues…