Our story has two beginnings—the first in 2016 when I gained a great friend, and in 2020, when that friend turned into the best partner in life I could've ever asked for. I first met Carlie during our Freshman Year at Purdue and we quickly became close friends throughout our time there. In 2020, that friendship transformed into the beginning of our love story. We thought we had it all figured out—until spring 2020 hit and we had our first encounter with uncertainty together. Not uncertainty in our relationship, but uncertainty in the sense of not knowing what you're supposed to do when the world shuts down. We knew we'd eventually have to traverse a long-distance relationship, but the pandemic threw us straight into what we'd been dreading since we started dating. Through all the craziness, I knew there was never a doubt that we'd overcome the challenges as long as we stuck to our plan: finish our educations and meet each other in San Diego. Through the next few years of long distance as Carlie was completing her master's degree in Tucson and I was finishing school in West Lafayette, we found ourselves constantly planning out the next time we'd get to see each other. Then, in January of 2022, I packed up my car, said my goodbyes, and made the trek out to Solana Beach where Carlie and I moved into our first apartment together. Over the past three years, Carlie and I have continued developing our relationship and building a life together in San Diego. We've explored countless beaches, tried more restaurants than we can count, and made this beautiful city our home. Through career changes, new friendships, and all the everyday moments in between, we've learned what it truly means to be partners in every sense of the word. In May of 2025, I proposed to Carlie at one of our favorite spots in San Diego, the Glider Port at Torrey Pines—a place where we've spent many sunsets. Looking back on our journey from college friends to long-distance partners to finally building our life together, I'm grateful for every challenge we faced because each one brought us closer. The years of planning visits and counting down days taught us patience and commitment, which has since served as the foundation of the relationship we continue to build. For those reading this, we are so excited to have you be part of the beginning of the next chapter in our relationship! Your presence at our wedding means the world to us, and we can't wait to celebrate with the people who have supported us along the way.