we're getting married!!

Jack saw Ellie for the first time while he was working at Oakfire. She was out to dinner with her parents and was in the bathroom praying the cute bartender would come up to her and ask her out. Jack walked up as she was headed back to the table and asked for her number. If you ask him, God didn't just tap him on the shoulder, he SHOVED him towards El.

After a last minute rain check, we were finally able to go on our first date! Jack picked El up and we spent the drive bonding over our love of country music and taking turns playing songs. We arrived at our favorite coffee shop, Anna's on the Lake, and proceeded to shut the place down. After two hours, we were asked to leave and Jack very sadly started driving Ellie back to her house. As we got to talking we both agreed we were having way too good of a time to say goodbye already and decided to grab an early dinner. Afterwards, Jack confidently told El he knew the way back to her house. About five missed turns later, Jack admitted that he was lost to which El replied saying she wasn't going to mention it. We drove through many back roads, eventually finding ourselves in the parking lot of a biker bar almost 30 minutes from either of our houses. We talked for hours and spent the time getting to know one another. Total time spent together on our first date: 7 hours!

We decided to beat our previous record of a seven-hour date by starting the day early, walking around Lake Andrea in the winter cold and unknowingly beginning what would become a ten-hour adventure. From there, we picked up Chick-fil-A—soon to be our go-to take out spot—and drove to Lake Michigan to eat by the water, along with homemade cookies Ellie had baked that morning. As “Banana Pancakes” by Jack Johnson played in the background, we traded stories, laughed easily together, and shared our first kiss. The day continued with a quick stop at Kwik Trip (where Jack discovered Ellie’s love for Diet Dr Pepper), and a game of pool back at Jack’s old apartment while we waited for our movie showtime. Even during the movie, we spent most of our time falling fast and falling hard for each other. After the movie ended, we found our way to a drive in for dinner, and after nearly ten unforgettable hours together, we said goodnight—already wishing the day didn’t have to end.

Just six days after our first date El was off to Arizona for a trip to visit her best friend Ann. El thought Jack was joking when he offered to drop her off at the airport on their third date, but as it turns out he was very serious. He even asked her mom for permission! He picked her up, loaded her bags, and opened all the doors. It felt crazy to be so sad leaving one another just a few days after we started spending time together. Everyday El was gone we facetimed at least once and were constantly sending each other texts and photos. When the trip was over Jack met El inside the airport and had snacks and her favorite drink waiting in the car. They picked up Chick Fil A yet again and spent the afternoon hanging out and catching up. He waited maybe an hour after they made it back from the airport before officially asking El to be his girlfriend. Our dating anniversary is February 1st, 2024!

We said I love you for the first time on February 2nd, 2024! El came back to Jack's apartment where they made salmon bowls for dinner - one of our favorites! We ate El's homemade chocolate chip cookies and watched Jack's favorite movie, Interstellar. But if we're being honest- El fell asleep 15 minutes in and didn't get around to watching Jack's favorite film fully until almost a year later. After the movie ended, El asked if she could write a message for him in his journal - a little something that he could read in the morning before he had to attend his grandma's funeral. Before she started writing, El pulled out her phone revealing the playlist she had been making for him over the last month. Jack began to cry as he explained he had never felt so seen and cared for. Sparks by Coldplay, one of Jack's favorite bands, came on and he couldn't hold it back any longer; he said I love you. El paused for a brief moment and through her own tears, said it right back. Although it may seem crazy to have said these words just 24 hours after becoming official, we knew we had found our home, the one our hearts were made for. We cannot wait to celebrate that love with all of you on June 13th!