We're getting married!

We met towards the end of our freshman year of high school at a cancer benefit dinner through mutual friends, and an instant connection sparked between us. Over the next nine months, our friendship grew incredibly close, while we debated whether to take our relationship to the next level. Eventually, in December 2013, our feelings aligned, and we started officially dating. Although we attended different high schools, we managed to balance our relationship with school, friends, and sports. Our strong friendship laid a solid foundation, making it natural for Joe to express his love first a few months into our relationship. College came next, and we supported each other in choosing schools that best suited our individual goals, leading to a separation of about an hour and a half. Despite the distance and challenges—like Joe not having a car and Kimberly’s busy schedule with her college soccer team—we made it work. The miles between Adrian and East Lansing, Michigan, were a testament to our commitment. Though we faced the typical trials of growing into our own selves, we continuously chose to grow together. We often talked about marriage, but at barely 20, we decided to savor life and our relationship. As we looked forward to a smooth path ahead, 2020 brought unexpected challenges with COVID and Kimberly’s decision to continue her education. After two years of grad school and nine years of dating, Joe moved into Kimberly’s apartment in Ann Arbor, and we finally started living together. The joy of daily life with your best friend—complete with frequent movie nights—was exactly what we needed. A year later, with Kimberly’s graduation on the horizon, we decided to buy a house together. Our home has become a reflection of both our personalities, with Kimberly’s designs, Joe’s ideas, and the company of our three beloved cats. In October 2023, we wanted to celebrate life together with a trip to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. Kimberly hoped for a proposal during this trip, but was told that ring shopping would be after the trip. Unbeknownst to her, Joe had secretly purchased a ring eight months prior and was waiting for the perfect moment. That moment came on the second day of our Paris adventure, on a charming, secluded side street near the Eiffel Tower. The proposal was intimate and magical, surpassing all of Kimberly’s dreams. And so, we’re thrilled to embark on the next chapter of our lives and share it with all our favorite people—our wedding. This is just the beginning of our love story, and we can’t wait to continue building our life together.