Leah and Bryan's story begins at the GVSU tennis courts back in 2011. Both played on the team in college and while they were instant friends, they were not instantly more than friends. While Bryan would have happily dated Leah from the start, she stuck him in the friend zone instead. He happily stayed there for quite some time and his perseverance paid off when they started dating in 2013. For all guys out there who think the friend zone is impenetrable, Bryan is living proof that it is not! After about six years of dating, Bryan proposed to Leah over Memorial Day weekend at the Dancz's cottage. After a full day of putting in the dock and cleaning the boat, Bryan needed to get Leah out of the house so that her parents could set up the scene he'd envisioned for the big moment. After dinner, Bryan asked Leah if she wanted to take an ATV ride. She had just taken a shower, so she begrudgingly obliged and went to change her clothes for the ride. Knowing that there would be photos taken after the proposal, much to Bryan's dismay, the outfit she chose was a short-sleeved Backstreet Boys T-shirt complete with all five of their faces right on the front for all to see. He convinced her to change, however, by letting her know that sleeves would be more appropriate for the ride and the two embarked. While they were away, Joe and Nancy set up a table at the end of the dock, complete with champagne/flutes, roses and a baby Christmas tree. The premise of the tree was Leah's favorite part of the proposal. For her first Christmas, Leah's parents bought her a baby tree and planted it outside their home. Throughout the rest of her life, they picked up the tree and moved it with them wherever they went. Now that they were starting their own family, Bryan bought a tree to do just the same. The two ran out of gas on their way home (making for a great story), but luckily made it back just before sunset. Bryan proposed on the dock, Leah said yes and the rest is history!