We met during freshmen orientation at Ball State University in 2015! This was just days after each of our high school graduation ceremonies. We both ended up in the same orientation group along with maybe 10 other incoming freshmen. We remained friends through freshmen year and started dating in September of 2016. A few of our first dates were to Steak N' Shake, the local Muncie bowling alley and to a sunflower patch for apple cider and cinnamon donuts!

We booked a weekend trip to St. Joseph, Michigan! A lake town on Lake Michigan. Matt did some pretty great planning because he was able to incorporate some of Syd's favorite things in one single day. On Halloween day, we stopped in the South Bend Chocolate Company just atop the bluff on Silver Beach. We sat and listened to Halloween music over coffee, hot chocolate and a few chocolate covered strawberries. Afterwards, we drove down the bluff to Tiscornia Beach to see the lighthouse and the lake. As we made our way down the beach, Matt stopped and proposed in front of the beautiful lighthouse!