We're getting married!

In true 21st-century fashion, we met on Hinge the fall of 2021 (Ethan hates to admit it but Nicole made the first move!). We spent a couple weeks messaging, and thanks to fate (also known as a blizzard that stranded Ethan in Iowa City), we met in person for the first time on New Year's Eve. We had lots of free time to spend getting to know each other over the next couple weeks before spring semester started at the University of Iowa, and we were officially "going steady" on January 20 of 2022. Since then, there have been two college graduations, two new homes, lots of new jobs, and a fur baby. We are so excited begin this next step of our lives together!

After receiving the blessing from Nicole's parents, I began planning the proposal in late July of 2025. Nicole and I had shopped for rings earlier that summer, and, admittedly, I went back and purchased the ring just a few days after shopping to make sure it would arrive in time for a fall proposal (this was also before asking her parents, which was a little risky, so thank goodness they said yes!). After getting the go-ahead from Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, I began checking out different proposal venues. Luckily, my job at the time involved a lot of event planning, so I was able to justify visiting so many different venues as "scouting for a place for an upcoming work event." I decided that Walker Homestead was the perfect place to pop the question! With that plan locked in, I just needed to find a way to get Nicole to the venue without giving it away. By another stroke of luck, my job was hosting a Bourbon and Wine fundraiser that fall (though not on October 24th and not at Walker Homestead). I knew Nicole was suspicious that this was a fake work event being used as a cover for a proposal, so I asked my coworker to edit the event flyer to list the proposal date and location. She finally was fully convinced after I hung that fake flyer on the fridge! Making sure Nicole was dressed up for the proposal was easy - all I had to do was make sure she knew it was going to be a fancy event and she needed a dress and heels. However, it was a struggle making sure her nails were done. I had gotten Nicole a new nail polish for her birthday a few weeks ago, and I planned to convince her she needed to test out her new nail color for the event (not a foolproof plan). Thankfully, Nicole has an amazing friend in Lexa, who convinced Nicole to go get her nails done "just for fun" on the date of the proposal (a much better plan). With everything set, it was go time. When we got to the venue, we wandered for a few minutes under the pretense of "checking out the venue" while the photographer, Jason Rubin, got set. We had gotten there "early" since I had told Nicole we needed to help set up for the (fake) Bourbon and Wine Fundraiser, and justified being the "first ones to arrive" as using the opportunity to check out a wedding venue she had looked at on Google. I got a text from my photographer that he was in place, and I walked Nicole over to the arch where I popped the question! Throughout the entire proccess the hardest part wasn't the planning, coordination, or the finances; it was having to tell a string of white lies to my best friend. I am so happy she said yes, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with her!

After weeks (months) of waiting, Ethan and I went ring shopping in June of 2025. It was so sweet to share that experience, and we left the jeweler with an engagement ring and wedding bands picked out, daydreaming about our future together. The next couple of months were spent managing anticipation, suspicion, and my best attempts at being patient (not my strongest virtue). Fast forward to late August when Ethan invited me to his "Bourbon and Wine" work fundraising event - aka a fancy wine tasting that required a fancy outfit at a wedding venue/vineyard (aka the perfect proposal opportunity). Originally, I thought the event fell on my weekend to work, so I wouldn't be able to join. That elicited an uncharacteristically emphatic request that I find a trade so that I could attend with him, and my suspicions were immediately sparked. I spent the next two weeks interrogating Ethan, friends, and family, trying to "get the dirt". By the middle of September, Ethan had me mostly convinced me that this truly was a work event, and I started to mentally prepare for a night of "schmoozing" with potential donors. I begrudgingly surrendered all hope that it would be a romantic engagement when Ethan hung the event flyer on our fridge at the beginning of October. Since we were planning to get married eventually, Ethan and I decided to use this as an opportunity to browse a potential future wedding venue. We planned to arrive at the venue 15-20 minutes before his coworkers to give us time to explore, so it wasn't surprising that the parking lot was empty when we pulled in. As we were getting out, Ethan suggested that I leave my coat in the car. I thought this was a weird suggestion at the time because (1) he was still wearing his coat, (2) it was 50 degrees out, (3) we were going to be walking around outside, and (4) I wasn't wearing my warmest outfit. There must have been some divine intervention because I didn't question him about it once! Ethan led me around the building to the area overlooking the vineyard. He seemed very antsy, looking around like he was searching for something (or someone). We wandered over to the gazebo, and at this point, I knew he was up to something. We walked back over to the picture-perfect arch overlooking the vineyard and the nerves really started to kick in. I couldn't believe this was really happening! Ethan got down on one knee, I said yes, and then there was a lot of smiling, laughing, and love (and admiring the ring!). Strangers in the background cheered and congratulated us, and we did a mini engagement photo shoot with the photographer that he booked. I've been asked if I was surprised, and in hindsight, I should have seen the clues. Between Ethan's initial reaction to me possibly being unavailable on October 24; a very suspicious trip to the mall that he was very shady about; my friends convincing me to get a fresh manicure the day of the proposal; Ethan frantically patting down his pockets as we got out of the car; and him commenting that it was a "perfect golden hour sunset" on the way to the venue, it seems obvious! After the surprise proposal, Ethan planned a surprise engagement party for us to celebrate our love for each other with friends and family.... and that's when the waterworks started. It was so wonderfully overwhelming to be showered with love on such a big day, and we are so lucky that we have so many wonderful people in our lives. We can't wait to continue this celebration with you all on June 12, 2027!