We met at our friend Jack's house at the University of Minnesota. Will was visiting for the weekend, Liz was preparing for a night out with her friends. We noticed each other right away and from that point on, we were barely apart. As a group we went to a restaurant named Sporty's (RIP), we sat next to each other. Then the group went to Liz's house, and we talked at her kitchen counter for what seemed like all night. Then the next day, us two and Jack went out to brunch. Will went back to Milwaukee for the week before visiting Minnesota again the following weekend. Like the weekend prior, we were only paying attention to each other. Fast forward 7 years and now we're getting married and couldn't be happier!

The proposal was planned the moment I picked up the ring. Liz and I live near Lake Nokomis and like to go on long walks around the lake. I planned for us to go on our usual walk, and at one of the bridges overlooking Minnehaha Creek, ask her to marry me. On the day of the proposal I was getting quite nervous. It was snowy, windy, and cold; less than ideal conditions for a walk around a frozen lake. I was adamant about taking this walk though, more adamant than I have ever been about a walk in my life. Not 10 minutes after we started walking, Liz and I decided to cut the walk short, I suggested we go look out at the frozen lake and head back into the warmth of our apartment. Heeding my suggestion, Liz came up with an idea to get us to the lake faster than normal. Her idea was to chase me there whilst throwing as many snowballs as she could possibly make. I ran away from her onslaught, the only thing in my mind being to absolutely under no circumstances let go of the ring that was sitting so loosely in my jacket pocket. What was funny about her decision, though, was that I had asked our friend Jack to take photos of the proposal. So, when she started chasing me with snowballs, I could see him sprinting in the distance, camera in hand, stressed out that he wouldn't get the action shots. After that commotion was over, Liz and I stood out looking at the frozen lake, and while her attention was out on the ice, I dropped down on one knee and was waiting for her to turn around. I told her I loved her and I asked her to marry me, to which she promptly shouted, "No!" followed quickly by a tearful, "Of course I'll marry you." Later on night we had dinner with both our families, I had asked her sister Sarah and my brother Matt to come in to town and surprise her. I also learned after the proposal that I was not as secretive as I hoped, and she kind of knew what was happening. I had asked her sister Emily to get their nails done together a few days before, and I was adamant about going on a walk during a cold spring week, which raised some justified suspicion for Liz. I couldn't be happier that she said yes and August 2nd can't come soon enough!