Who ever knew a simple "Hey, will you watch my stuff?" could turn into something so magical! During undergrad, our coursework essentially forced us to live in the study lounge on the 3rd floor of Emmons Hall at Michigan State University. After enough secret glances and sweet smiles, we finally began to sit together and within not even a week, we became best friends. Six years later, we couldn't imagine ever going through life without each other!

The whole day leading up to the proposal was one of the most nerve-racking ones of my life. While Rachel and I were getting ready to leave for the Whistling Swan Inn, I was anxiously texting my sister who was going to meet us at the B&B to secretly take pictures of the proposal. I was terrified of her either arriving too late and missing it or, God forbid, too early and spoiling the surprise. Regardless, we kept with the plan and Rachel and I drove up to the Inn. When we arrived, I didn’t see Katie’s minivan, but then began worrying that she was stuck in traffic and wouldn’t make it there in time. After a deep breath, we walked up to the Inn and were greeted by the lovely owners who did an amazing job acting as if this was the first time we were meeting, even though I had been there earlier that week to plan out the proposal scavenger hunt. When we were shown our room, my gamble that Rachel would need to use the bathroom as soon as we got there paid off. As soon as the door shut behind her, I opened my backpack, removed the clues, placed the first two in the room, and was out the door before she had even washed her hands. I placed the clues around the Inn, each one telling a memory from the 5 years we’d spent together. I finally breathed a sigh of relief when all the clues were all set and I saw my sister hiding in the backyard. I joined her behind a set of bushes that would only hide the shortest of adults and awaited for Rachel to emerge. When she walked through the back door I could hear her crying, but as she passed, my sister and I both held our breath to remain invisible. When Rachel stepped into the gazebo, I walked behind her, waiting for her to get to the final part of the clue that told her to “turn around.” When she did, I was on one knee and after what seemed like an eternity, got to ask her to be my bride.