Kate has a complicated relationship with dating apps, and Tyler was about one swipe away from deleting Hinge for good. Somehow, on the same random day, they both showed up. They matched, started talking, connecting over road trips, good beer, and a shared interest in all things history. They went on their first date on April 1st. No, the relationship is not a joke, they promise. Four dates in the first week... It was pretty apparent that this was going to work out.

In the early months of dating, Kate and Tyler found themselves at Kinkaider on a pretty regular basis — an after-work drink here, a Thursday night bingo and pizza there. Since they were living in different cities at the time, there were visits to both the Aksarben and Lincoln locations. Wherever they were, Kinkaider had a way of being the place they ended up. One evening, not too far into dating, Tyler looked around and said something along the lines of — "I don't want to freak you out, but this place would make a really great casual wedding spot." Kate smiled and finished the thought — "or even a couple's shower." They looked at each other and laughed. Same page, apparently, from pretty early on. A little over a year later, they chose that exact spot to celebrate with everyone they love. Beer, pizza, and all their favorite people. Some things just make sense from the start.

Before their first trip together, the important questions had already been asked. What is the perfect road trip snack? Where do you like to explore? What does a good vacation actually look like to you? Turns out they were working with the same answers. Their very first getaway was a quiet weekend at a lake house. They grilled, cooked a good meal, opened a bottle of wine, and watched a storm roll in from the porch. They talked for hours. The next morning they took a walk and made their first great discovery as a couple — they both stop to look for cool rocks. Pick them up, inspect them, pocket the good ones. Is it a little weird? Sure. Are they the same kind of weird? Absolutely. Since then the road — and occasionally a plane — has taken them quite a few places. A railway explorer adventure in Boone. Exploring Idaho and Utah. Mountains and breweries in Colorado, which hold a special place as Tyler's favorite. Sun and sand in Destin. Niagara Falls with Kate's family. And a surprise trip to Harry Potter World in Orlando for Tyler's birthday. And of course, the Black Hills of South Dakota — Kate's favorite place. That one deserves its own story. They are just getting started. Next up: more road trip snacks, breweries with a view, the best local food they can find, a hike or two, and inevitably — a few cool rocks along the way.

Tyler had been dropping hints for months — or so Kate thought. On the drive up to her favorite place, the Black Hills of South Dakota, he casually brought up how he might ask her dad for her hand. Over golf? Over drinks? Just come out and ask? Kate mentally crossed the trip off the list. Clearly, it wasn't happening this time. Tyler was giddy that first night. Giddy. Going on about how great the trip was going to be and how happy he was. Kate figured he was either running on happy-tired energy after a long drive or desperately in need of a vacation after a busy landscaping season. Probably both. Their first full day, they set out to hike Black Elk Peak. Tyler showed up ready to go — in a massive, heavy coat. He kept complaining he was hot but refused to take it off no matter how many times Kate suggested it. Odd, but she let it go. Little did she know, it was hiding a rather obviously shaped box... What Tyler had not accounted for was the hike itself. Spotting the tower on a distant peak, he turned to Kate and said, "That is where we are going?" She smiled. "Yep. Let's go." Longer and steeper than expected, but they made it. The summit was worth every step — sun shining, a powerful wind keeping them on their toes, and clear views for miles in every direction. Kate wanted to keep exploring. Tyler stopped her. "Just wait a moment." She figured he needed to catch his breath. He pulled her into a big hug, looked at her, and said "You are the biggest blessing in my life" — then got down on one knee right there at the top. She may or may not have blacked out. But the answer was an easy yes. They made their way back down, caught up in the moment, and somewhere on the descent, it began to flurry — a quiet little sign that this was exactly right. They celebrated the only way that made sense. Over a craft beer or two.