We met in Pella, Iowa, at a local bar called Ned’s. Maddie challenged Ben to a game of Connect Four after going undefeated against all her friends. Maddie quickly discovered that Ben was a different caliber of opponent. After much playful banter, Ben managed to convince her to go to dinner with him the next day. This was near the end of Maddie’s summer internship in Pella, so there were some doubts about how long things would last. Maddie returned to Texas, but despite the distance, Ben and Maddie stayed in touch through phone calls and FaceTimes. Eventually, Ben decided to fly out to Texas to visit Maddie. While there, he was intensely interrogated by some of Maddie’s friends—but after giving him their approval, Ben and Maddie officially started dating. Ben visited Maddie again that fall and met her parents, who offered him generous helpings of asparagus… which he politely declined. That Thanksgiving, Maddie had the opportunity to meet Ben’s family, including his parents and siblings. Ben later returned the favor by joining Maddie to visit her parents over Christmas. At the end of the school year, Maddie graduated and accepted a full-time job in Pella, moving to the same town where Ben had been living. They continued to grow closer and enjoyed many adventures together over the next couple of years, visiting Colorado, Chicago, Mexico and even taking a trip to London and Scotland. About two years after meeting, Ben proposed to Maddie in November 2025 at the Botanical Gardens in Des Moines—surprising her not only with the proposal that day but also the next day by bringing both their parents to celebrate. Now, Ben and Maddie look forward to their wedding in August, excited to celebrate their marriage with friends and family!