It all started at the South YMCA, where Dakota worked in membership and Lanie worked in aquatics. At first, it was just quick jokes and friendly exchanges in passing—but little did we know, those small moments were the beginning of something so much bigger. In September of 2022, we joined some coworkers for a casual night out at a restaurant. That evening, we truly connected for the first time. We laughed, joked, and by the end of the night, we had exchanged numbers. Not long after, we went on our first official date, and everything just clicked. We quickly realized that we shared not only similar values, but also the same intentional approach to love and life. On December 3, 2022, we officially began dating—and the adventure hasn’t stopped since. From family and friend trips to vacations, from moving in together to adopting another kitten, we’ve built a life filled with love, laughter, and growth. Through every milestone, we’ve supported each other and continued to grow both as individuals and as a couple. Now, with grateful hearts, we’re ready for our next step: committing to marriage and continuing to trust God’s plan for us.

The day Dakota proposed was rainy and stormy in the evening, and I was nervous about whether our sunflower field photoshoot would even happen. I was so excited for pictures, but in the back of my mind I couldn’t help wondering if Dakota was wanting to begin our next chapter soon. He had been dropping little hints here and there, like talking about weddings and browsing rings at the mall, but I still wasn’t sure if or when he was truly ready to propose. What I didn’t know was that Dakota had been secretly working with my sisters and our photographer all along. I had actually planned the photoshoot but he had communicated with her without my knowledge. While I suspected something, he stayed so calm and relaxed that I started to think I had imagined it all. When the photoshoot began, we were just having fun—laughing, posing, soaking up the beauty of the sunflower fields after the rain. Toward the end, our photographer told us she had one last pose in mind. She asked us to stand back-to-back and then slowly walk away from each other. My heart was racing. Then she told me to turn around. There was Dakota, down on one knee among the sunflowers, looking up at me with teary eyes. I immediately teared up too. In that perfect, private moment, he asked me to be his forever. It was the easiest “yes” of my life. That day in the sunflower fields will always be one of the most perfect, sweetest, most joyful memories we share—and the beginning of our next chapter together.