It all began on a summer night in 2019, when Haley was convinced to join her friend Brielle and meet Collin's (Brielle's now husband) friend, Hayden. Though initially uninterested in meeting anyone new, Haley eventually agreed. She didn’t know it at the time, but that night would change everything. At first, the connection wasn’t instant. In fact, Haley thought Hayden was a bit of a jerk, especially after he teased her about her sunburn, calling her a “tomato.” While Haley exchanged knowing looks with Brielle, silently agreeing that this guy was not her type, something was starting to shift. As time went on, Brielle and Collin kept hanging out, and eventually, it became clear that there was an unspoken, budding connection between Hayden and Haley. They began forming somewhat of a “secret alliance,” pretending it was a nuisance to always hang out together, when in reality, they were both looking forward to each moment. The turning point came one evening when, for the first time, Haley found herself actually disappointed when Hayden didn’t show up as planned. Without wasting any time, she got his Snapchat username, and soon enough, their playful banter began. Despite her teasing, it wasn’t long before Hayden asked Haley to join him for a late-night outing to his favorite spot: Waffle House! From that moment on, they were inseparable. Throughout the summer of 2019, they spent every day together, making the most of the time before Haley had to return to school at Mizzou. During a playful exchange about Hayden’s high school senior photos, Haley casually asked, “Are you like… my boyfriend now or something?” To which Hayden responded, “I guess so.” That was all it took — on July 24th, 2019, they became official! But as that summer ended, so did the blissful closeness. Haley had to go back to Columbia, Missouri, to finish her studies, and the long-distance relationship began. Though the distance between them was challenging, with trips back and forth and countless moments of longing, they made it work. They stayed committed to one another, and the spark between them never faded. In 2020, when COVID allowed Haley to finish her semester courses from home, she moved back to St. Joseph to quarantine with Hayden, and together, they made the decision to close the distance for good. Haley transferred to Kansas State University at the start of the following semester, and they adopted Crüe, a dog who quickly became the center of their world. The next big milestone came when Haley graduated and moved back to their hometown. During this time, Hayden had been preparing their first home, putting his energy into creating a place for them to start the next chapter of their lives. But the most unforgettable moment came on a trip to Italy, to celebrate Jenna (Hayden's sister) graduation. While in Orvieto, they visited St. Patrick’s Well, and while waiting for their group, Haley noticed the viewing scopes at the edge of the well. Curious, she inserted her Euro, preparing to take in the stunning view for the entire allotted time. Unbeknownst to her, Hayden was behind her, playfully pestering her to hurry up. As she continued to look through the scope, barely noticing Hayden’s teasing, he waited for his moment. Finally, when Haley turned around, ready to scold him for his persistence, she was stunned to find Hayden kneeling before her, ring box in hand. In utter shock, Haley gasped, and Hayden, with a smile, asked, “Will you marry me?” Without hesitation, Haley said, “Yes!” The moment was sealed with tears, and the couple was overjoyed — but the surprises didn’t end there. A group of Italian students, who had been watching from a distance, cheered and clapped as the proposal unfolded, creating a perfect ending to an unforgettable moment.