Our love, our day

It all started at Purdue University in the spring of 2020- through the most unexpected matchmaker: the internet. We (Branden and Ellie) began talking just as the world was shutting down due to COVID-19. Before we ever had the chance to meet in person, we were sent home- Branden to northern Indiana, and Ellie to central Ohio. When we finally saw each other face-to-face on campus that August, it felt like something clicked- like we'd known each other all along. Within weeks, we knew we had something special. Almost five years later, our love has spanned states, time zones, and continents. Branden graduated from Purdue in 2022 and joined the Army, while Ellie continued and then graduated from pharmacy school. Since then, we’ve done long-distance- with Branden living in Indiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and South Korea, and Ellie in Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, Oklahoma, and even Kenya. Through it all, we’ve remained each other’s constant. While the miles between us have changed, one thing has always stayed the same: we choose each other every day. In October 2023, Branden proposed in one of the most meaningful places to Ellie- Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Every year since childhood, Ellie and her family have vacationed there, creating some of her most cherished memories. That year, Branden got down on one knee at Harbour Town Pier. In a place full of Ellie's memories, we created a new one- one we’ll remember forever. We’ve shared laughter, tears, challenges, and deep joy. Our motto has always been, “I choose you every day.” In every chapter of our journey, no matter where we are or what we're facing, we choose to love and support each other. And that’s the promise we carry into the next chapter: to keep choosing each other, every single day, for the rest of our lives.