Neither Drew nor Emma can recall the first time they met. Both attended youth group at Woodlands and remember each other from that time, with their friend groups often overlapping, but they didn’t become friends until after high school.

The summer after graduation, Emma Jo and Emma Nelson quickly became best friends. Emma Jo, Emma, Drew, and Joe became close friends. Together, we shared many adventures and continued to grow closer as friends.

After a year of friendship, Emma and Drew’s relationship continued to deepen. Through late-night ice cream after Cru, getting coffee, a trip to Indiana, and countless car rides, they both began to realize their connection had grown into more than just a friendship.

Two years after Emma and Drew became friends, Drew asked her out while driving her home one night. When Emma shared the news, the most common responses were, “You weren’t already?” and “It took you long enough.”

During a camping trip to the Upper Peninsula with friends, Drew popped the question while we were on a scenic drive at the top of Brockway Mountain.