We're getting married!

Sophia and Ethan’s story started in middle school, when they were part of the same friend group. They had classes and study halls together, spent time in the band practice rooms, and were around each other often, but neither of them really saw the other as anything more than a friend. That changed during the pandemic-led hybrid learning their sophomore year. They had already started talking a little through math, with Ethan often helping Sophia with homework, but an online band class gave them an unexpected reason to talk more. Ethan shared his cat on Zoom, and Sophia used it as an excuse to message him. What started with a conversation about his cat turned into hours of talking about life, getting to know each other, and eventually meeting up for coffee. With not much else to do during COVID, those coffee dates became a regular thing, and somewhere along the way they realized they had feelings for each other. On January 10, 2021, they made it official. Their first actual date was candlelight cross-country skiing. The rest of high school was spent growing up together. They ran cross-country and pole vaulted together, while also showing up for each other’s other activities. Ethan was at nearly every one of Sophia’s gymnastics meets, and Sophia supported Ethan through mock trial. When they graduated, they were voted “Most Likely to Be High School Sweethearts,” which turned out to be pretty fitting. College took them to different schools at first, with Ethan attending UW–La Crosse and Sophia attending Minnesota State Mankato. Sophia transferred to La Crosse after her first semester, bringing them back to the same city. By August 2024, they were ready to take the next step and moved in together with Sophia’s best friend, Ashley, along with Brayden and Victor, who they had both graduated high school with but didn’t know particularly well at the time. Ethan and Brayden became friends through ROTC during their freshman year of college, and Victor, who was Brayden’s roommate, soon became part of the group as well. Just two months after moving in together, Ethan proposed at Timms Hill on October 5, 2024, followed by a surprise engagement party with their family and friends. Over the next two years, they navigated college, new jobs, and Ethan’s ROTC journey. Their roommates continued to grow into some of their closest friends, who will be standing alongside Sophia and Ethan on their wedding day. In May 2026, Sophia and Ethan moved into a place of their own and brought home a new important part of their family: their cat, Wren. Now, as they finish their senior year and get ready for their wedding, Sophia and Ethan are excited for what comes next. As they look toward the future, they can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter with the people who mean the most to them.