Fancy seeing you here!

Seven years ago I messaged a girl named Holland Locke who I thought was cute and decided to say hello. She didn't respond right away thinking she must be busy, so I gave it a few days. I opened the app a few days later and there she was saying hi. We chatted for a few weeks getting to know each other, what things we liked, when our birthdays were, what we did for work, favorite colors, etc. From then on it's been a rollercoaster of an adventure. Our very first in person meeting was in her dorm room where she attended The University of St. Thomas. June 25th, 2016 came around, I decided to have enough courage to ask her to be my girlfriend, I thought what's the worst that can happen, and she said yes. Our first official date was August 12th, 2016, she came over to meet my parents then the two of us went out for her birthday which is August 10th it was also her 21st birthday that year. We went to Betty Dangers for some drinks and Mini Golf. We also had a skyline view of Minneapolis on their Ferris Wheel, while unintentional fireworks filled the skyline. A month later we went to that Minnesota State Fair for the first time as a couple and have gone every year since, except of course the year Covid was around. A few days later during Labor Day weekend she left for France to study abroad for four months, longest four months of my life, I couldn't wait till she came home. It was around Christmas time that same year when she finally came home from France, and it was one hell of a Christmas present. Her two friends Lexi, Danielle and I sat in the airport parking ramp and made welcome home signs as we awaited the arrival of her plane. Her plane arrived at the International Arrival gates where we set up shop to wait for her to get off the plane through customs and back to us. 5 years later, I decided it’s been long enough I'm going to ask Holland to marry me. Of course, like a gentleman I asked for her parents’ permission to marry their only child and Daughter. So, I texted her mom and asked if I could come have lunch on one of my off days. We sat down talking about whatever and I said the reason I wanted to have lunch with you two was to properly ask for you Daughters’ hand in marriage, of course they said well you didn't have to ask us for that, but I thought it was the right thing to do. We got engaged at my family cabin while we hosted a friend’s weekend in August of 2021. I was planning to go camping with her and her parents a few weeks before that up in Two Harbors, Minnesota. I was going to take her to Gooseberry Falls which is the first State Park we explored together, I've never been to a State Park before Holland came into my life. But like life goes something must get in the way of plans, I had to work that weekend. So, I decided to text her bffs Lexi and Abby to help me pick out a ring. We found a ring that I was going to use to propose to her with. A few weeks later Holland asked to use my phone to call Lexi and she found out I was planning to propose during friend weekend. I took her out on the pontoon around sunset turned on the radio and what song was playing; well, it couldn't have been more perfect timing cause the song was Somebody to Love by Queen. I got down on one knee and asked her Will you marry me? and she YES!!!!!!! All our friend were waiting on the dock for us to return and find out what she said. They were ecstatic when they found out she said yes. Since then, we purchased our own little four-legged fur baby. She is a miniature Dachshund and decided to name her Bisous (pronounced BEE-ZOO) it means kisses in French and does she live up to that name. She loves giving kisses to everyone she meets. Which brings us to our wedding day OCTOBER 21st, 2023!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry for rambling on I'll shut up now. Thank you for listening to my TED TALK.