Our Story
Gianna and Michael’s story began in 2016 when she watched Michael play her older brother in the State Basketball Tournament in Aberdeen, SD. She was smitten—not just by his talent, but by his humble, down-to-earth style on the court. So, naturally, she took a chance and ‘slid into his DMs’—as the kids say. That message sparked the next five years of long-distance dating, Michael attended the School of Mines in Rapid City and Gianna at South Dakota State University in Brookings. After briefly living in Kansas City and Fargo, they’ve now spent nine amazing years together traveling and creating so many memories. They settled in the Black Hills in May 2023, where they now work from home.
On August 26, 2024, the day after Gianna’s golden birthday, Michael took her on what she thought was a birthday hike to the top of Black Elk Peak. But when they reached the summit, he surprised her with a proposal, creating one of their most cherished memories.
For all the days along the way
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