We met in 2015 after a mutual friend (Emily Bowen) introduced us at Hessen Haus in Des Moines. Alex wanted Bowen to bring some of her cute friends around. Wild success. Emily wanted Bowen to stop introducing her to idiots she knew in college. Swing and miss.

I knew I was going to ask Emily to marry me four months into dating. That being said, it remains a mystery as to why I waited four and half years to do it. ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, PEOPLE. Emily and I have traveled 9 different countries together. It was always my idea to propose on one of these adventures. Last year after taking a tram up damn near the top of France, I held Emily, turned and looked at her and... really wished I had bought a ring. Hadn't gotten around to that yet. I started shopping right when we got home. We went to Vancouver over 6 months later. I proposed and she said (verbatim), "Shut the hell up, what are you doing, are you sure, oh my god, what are you doing, really?"