Our story is one that began long before we realized it. As children, we were connected through Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Lake Church, where we both attended religious education classes and even received our First Communion together. At the time, we had no idea how those early moments would quietly lay the groundwork for what was to come. Years later, our paths crossed again during our junior year of high school when we found ourselves in the same ceramics class. What started as a casual friendship slowly grew through long phone calls, shared laughs, and plenty of ice cream outings. While Dylan felt the spark early on, I (Natalie) needed time—unaware that this season of friendship was shaping something meaningful. When I left for college at UW–La Crosse, the distance didn’t end the connection. We stayed in touch, and when I returned home in May of 2018, the timing finally felt right. We started dating, and while much of our relationship unfolded long-distance, we spent time learning patience and appreciation for every moment together. When I graduated from graduate school in 2023, the distance finally ended, marking the beginning of a new chapter of a story years in the making. Now, as we look ahead to this next chapter, we are beyond excited to celebrate our marriage and the life we are building together. We are so grateful for the love and support of our family and friends, and it means the world to us to have you here as we begin this journey as husband and wife.