Our story began on a summer afternoon at the Memorial Union Terrace in Madison, the kind of place where cold beers, lake views, and good company make everything feel effortless. We were introduced by Jason’s brother and sister-in-law, who Stephani was already friends with. What started as a casual meet-up quickly turned into a full night out together. We laughed, talked, and genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. But by the end of the night, Stephani walked away thinking Jason wasn’t interested at all. No phone number was asked for, no obvious flirting happened… but as she would soon learn, that was just shyness making a quiet first impression. Eventually, Stephani decided to take the lead and sent a text. That single message turned into days of nonstop texting and a second date. We spent the day mini-golfing around Madison, hanging out, and ending the night with Mexican food. When it came time to say goodbye, Jason leaned in for a first kiss… only to watch Stephani quickly hop out of his car and speed off. (Yes, she ran away.) Our third date was a long walk along Lake Michigan, talking about everything from work to life, the kind of conversation that stretches on without anyone noticing the time. Then, out of nowhere, Stephani launched into a very intense, very passionate political conversation. And we mean intense. Forget sports. Forget hobbies. She needed to know if Jason shared her values. Spoiler alert: he did. And the best part? There was no debate at all just a lot of laughter, energy, and relief that we were completely on the same page. As our relationship grew, so did our little family. In 2023, we welcomed Pisco, a goldendoodle who quickly claimed his role as ruler of the household and became our favorite adventure buddy. Over the next few years, our lives turned into one big adventure. We traveled across the U.S. and beyond, Malaysia, Perú, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Arizona, Texas, Miami, and Orlando. In December 2024, we explored Thailand together. Bangkok quickly became one of our favorite cities in the world, thanks to its incredible food, vibrant street markets, and nonstop exploring. From there, we headed to Railay Beach in Krabi, hopping between islands on a private boat, swimming, sightseeing, and ending the day with a private dinner on the beach at sunset. What Stephani didn’t know was that Jason had been carrying an engagement ring the entire time. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we walked to the edge of the beach and that’s where Jason proposed. Today, we live together near Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, where we love returning to South Shore Beer Garden, taking long walks by the water with Pisco, and trying new restaurants around the city. And we’re just getting started. Many more trips lie ahead, Japan, China, Hungary, and anywhere our curiosity takes us. From a summer afternoon of beers and laughs to a sunset proposal halfway across the world, this is our story, and we can’t wait to celebrate the next chapter with all of you. If our story has taught us anything, it’s this: we love laughing, exploring, and living life with big, passionate energy sometimes about politics, sometimes about food, but always about the things that matter. Our wedding weekend is all about celebrating love, family, friendship, and plenty of laughter. From sipping tequila on a tour to sharing unforgettable adventures, we can’t wait for you to join us in creating memories that are just as joyful, lively, and adventurous as our life together so far.