Sarah grew up in Detroit, Michigan, while Michael was raised in Houston, Texas. Life had an interesting way of crossing their paths: Michael decided to leave Texas and head north to attend the University of Detroit Mercy to study Mechanical Engineering, while Sarah left Michigan to study Statistics (and play softball!) at Brown University in Rhode Island. In August 2017, just before Sarah was set to return to Brown, she made a very last-minute decision to tag along with a high school friend to attend a calculus class at Detroit Mercy. She showed up in a hat with a ponytail and a baggy sweatshirt, definitely not expecting to meet anyone special that day. But fate had other plans. Sarah and Michael ended up in the same group to go over practice problems, and later that afternoon, Michael sent her a Facebook message with a simple waving hand emoji. That one small message turned into something life-changing. From the very beginning, Sarah and Michael clicked instantly. The following summer of 2018, when Michael stayed in Michigan for an internship, the two spent nearly every day together. Their first date was a Detroit Tigers baseball game, and before long, they were planning Harry Potter movie marathons, wine nights, and googling local events just to find new excuses to hang out. Whether sitting in a Sonic parking lot for hours or driving around town with no real destination, they loved being together. By the end of that summer, their relationship officially began. When junior year started, so did long distance. With Sarah back in Rhode Island and Michael in Michigan, they kept their connection strong through endless FaceTime calls and visits whenever possible. Those years weren’t always easy, but they proved just how committed they were to one another. Over time, they built not just memories but milestones: supporting each other through college graduations, navigating first real jobs, learning how to pay bills, and tackling the adventures (and challenges!) of adulting side by side. Along the way, they’ve shared so many of the things they love: country concerts, game nights, and cheering on their rival NFL teams. Sarah is a proud Detroit Lions fan, while Michael stands by his Green Bay Packers. Luckily for Sarah, the Lions have been “Kings of the North” two years running, a fact she doesn’t let Michael forget! The rivalry has brought plenty of laughs and playful banter into their relationship, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. In May 2024, Michael proposed during Sarah’s family cruise. He asked Sarah’s dad for his blessing and one evening after dinner, he worked with the ship’s photographer to plan the perfect surprise. As Sarah was being posed for photos, Michael got down on one knee behind her. When she turned around, she found him waiting with a ring and of course, she said yes! It was a sweet, simple moment made even more special with her family there to celebrate. In 2023, Sarah and Michael bought their first home together. Since then, they’ve loved making it their own, hosting friends for parties and game nights, cooking together, and sneaking out after dinner for late-night ice cream runs. They’ve celebrated milestones big and small, from first jobs to planning their wedding, and through it all, they’ve built a life full of love, laughter, and adventure. Now, they are beyond excited for the future, to get married! To celebrate with all of their loved ones, and to officially combine their families into one as they begin the next chapter of their story.