We're getting married!

It all started with a white coat, and now we are talking about a white dress! Mike and I happened to land in the same middle of nowhere town of Kirksville Missouri in the summer of 2022 to begin our medical school adventure. Prior to classes commencing, the school honors their incoming students with the “White Coat Ceremony,” a special milestone—the first step into a life dedicated to medicine, and the first time students and families gather to mark the journey ahead. At KCOM, it’s also the very first time the entire class lays eyes on each other. Jane Megown (Mike’s mom) remembers first watching proudly as Michael walked across the stage, and second spotting a very tall, blonde girl chanting, “Go Tigers!” during her stage introduction. Wasting no time, she prompted Michael on the lawn outside, “Who’s that Clemson girl? She is pretty cute...” Fast-forward a few days, and fate did its thing. We officially met at none other than Dukum Inn—yes, the Dukum (the one and only Kirksville bar). It’s more than a little grungy, but for better or worse, it’s where our story began. We found ourselves wrapped up into a tight knit crew that we will now lovingly refer to as our forever friends. Our first semester flew by and we all fortunately planned a group trip to Florida that sparked a whole new beginning for Mike and Hunter. Upon returning home we made a lame attempt to keep things quiet. Our friends played along to humor us, and we thought we were being so sneaky! We officially started dating at the end of our first year in med school—and we’ve been all in ever since. After our second year of school, we moved to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio to begin third and fourth year rotations. We made a home, and adopted a tiny kitten named Chef who quickly became Moose’s very unexpected best friend (and sometimes a dog's worst nightmare all in one). Life got busy, but also sweeter and more grounded. In early 2025, the conversations shifted—we started talking seriously about the future. Marriage, and residency together, which in a medical student’s world is a commitment bigger than any other. Mike started planning. In May, Hunter flew down to Florida with the Megown women (+Sam!) for a weekend celebrating his sister, Kelly, the bride-to-be. What Hunter didn’t know was that Mike and his Dad had secretly flown in too. He spent 24 hours hiding out nearby, waiting for just the right sunset to propose on the beach. He nailed it. Mike had thought of everything—he spoofed his phone location to make it look like he was still in Ohio. He pre-sent pet photos from home so Hunter wouldn’t get suspicious. He had been planning the moment since Jane had mentioned the trip, months earlier. It was the happiest day of our lives—until the next one, when we get to stand together in front of all of you. We are so incredibly grateful for the family and friends who’ve supported us, encouraged us, and loved us every step of the way. Thank you for being part of our story.