It's funny how we lived in the same place for years, attended the same church, knew each other but never really knew each other. We started working in the same office and shortly after we became friends. We thought to ourselves, how have we never been friends before. We had so much in common. We loved and laughed at all the same things. After some time, the friendship grew and before we knew it, we were happy in love.

Let's just say, surprising Erica wasn't the easiest or the most fun task. Nichole had a plan and Erica's overly logical self almost ruined it. Nichole has always wanted to lock our love on a bridge, and it turns out the Meridian Bridge was close to the hotel we were staying at for Erica's graduation. The Missouri River runs below the bridge and connects South Dakota to Nebraska. We arrived at the bridge about 30 minutes before sunset, bundled up in our winter gear as it was quite cold out. Hand in hand we walked all the way to the other side to touch the Nebraska state line, admiring all the locks that had been strategically placed along the bridge sides. Nichole asked Erica to help her pick the perfect spot to lock their love. Erica chose a spot in the middle of the bridge that was empty and had a beautiful view of the river. Nichole reached in her bag and handed Erica a small box wrapped with a gold bow. Erica opened and pulled out an engraved gold padlock with a ring locked on it. Just then Nichole got down on one knee and said, "I wanted to walk across this bridge today to lock our love and unlock our future. The bridge symbolizes a connection between two sections, a path paved to come together. What better way to show how we've traveled from different ends of the world, only to come together. The bridge shows how we've met in the middle, through true partnership and demonstrates the direction to where we are headed. I hope that with every bridge, we find our way across hand in hand with each other by our sides. I promise to love you and be there for every step of the way, with the hope that every time we come to a dead-end that we build our own bridge and create a new way. So as I kneel before you I ask, Erica Nicole Whitiker will you do me the honor and allow me to unlock our future together (unlocking the ring from the padlock), continue to be my best friend, my partner in life, and most importantly become my wife!" Erica then responded tearfully "yes!"