S/O to Western Michigan University! We didn't know it when we first sat down at the same table, but that was to be our assigned seat and team for the semester. Taylor learned that Jake's other major was engineering, and she was struggling in her engineering class. She thought it couldn't hurt to get this cute guy's number for homework help—especially after she also learned that he had a new puppy. Class projects and engineering homework turned into getting together to take the puppy for a walk during the day and going out to bars with friends at night. Two and a half years of long distance, adding another puppy as an anniversary gift, finally living together in a Chicago suburb apartment, a rental house in the Quad Cities, and now our very own home, here we are--four years and lots of adventures later, planning a wedding!

Picture this: String lights leading to a table with rose petals, tea lights and champagne glasses. In front of the table, the dogs are sitting nicely with their "Ring Guard" bandanas on, and Jake is standing between them holding a "Will you marry me?" neon sign. That's what Taylor saw on the top the houseboat while anchored in a cove for Fourth of July weekend at Lake Shelbyville. Little to Taylor's knowledge, Jake had planned this moment over a month prior. The day of the proposal he had to make it through convincing Taylor to take a shower and get ready for "family photos," wait out the torrential downpour that interrupted dinner, and talk Taylor into staying in the dress he knew she'd rather be wearing for photos instead of the comfy clothes she was trying to escape to put on. In the end, Jake's impressive planning surprised Taylor, and we had a great time celebrating our engagement over the holiday weekend with family and friends at the lake.