We're getting married!

Our romance kicked off in the digital realm of social media, where our first messages hinted at something special. For our first date, we planned to meet at Drakes in Middletown. Brandon, always the devoted one, drove from Lanesville, Indiana, to be near Kristen’s Kentucky home—a move we both saw as a win. But the weather had other ideas. As we pulled up, a tornado roared through, clashing with a Trinity High School football game. Drakes was swamped, with a two-hour wait looming. Undaunted, we lingered in the doorway, dodging rain and gusts, before ducking next door to a Cuban restaurant. What could’ve been a mess turned into pure joy. We clicked right away, passing food and drinks back and forth—Kristen’s love language in full swing. Even when the restaurant’s AC quit, leaving us sweaty, our connection only deepened. Not ready to part ways, we braved the storm again- Brandon taking off his over shirt to cover Kristen's hair as he knew she'd end the date if she got soaking wet, aiming for a nearby bar. A flooded parking lot stopped us cold, so we rerouted to a spot owned by Kristen’s friends farther down the road. The night rolled on with an easy vibe, like we’d been a duo forever. On Kristen’s drive home, she saw the storm’s chaos: a tree had smashed into her garage, fence, and backyard furniture. Good thing she'd just spent the evening with an insurance pro. That crazy first date was a Friday. By Sunday, we were on our second date, then a third by Wednesday. That Friday, we caught The Red Clay Strays—soon our go-to band—and from there, we were all in. Our days together never stopped. The next April, we built and bought our first home in Georgetown, Indiana, coaxing Kristen to swap her Kentucky roots for Hoosier life. On December 6, 2024, at our favorite French Lick Resort, Brandon popped the question, turning our stormy start into a lifelong promise.