We first met in high school and started dating in 2015 — and we’ve basically been stuck with each other ever since (no complaints… most of the time). Our very first date almost didn’t happen. Lucas missed the school bus, Maddie was convinced she’d been stood up, and it was shaping up to be a disaster… until he showed up on a bike and rode all the way to her house to make it happen. Effort was high from day one! From there, everything just kind of clicked. During school, Lucas was studying hard and Maddie was running amok, so we only saw each other once a week. This built our independence and made those after-school hangouts (walks on the farm and IGA snack runs) feel extra special. We then survived two years of long distance, when Lucas moved to Perth for university and then overseas to Indonesia. Once we got through this, we knew that we could get through anything! In 2020 we moved into an apartment together for the first time. This also happened to be the start of the pandemic so we got to spend lots of time together. Fast forward 11 years from the first date and life has been pretty simple and exactly how we like it — picnic dates at Cottesloe Civic Centre, weeknight reruns of Modern Family, and any excuse to get out of Perth and go camping. We ticked off our first overseas trip together to Japan — a pretty special milestone (and proof we can successfully navigate trains, language barriers, and travel stress). Turns out Lucas is the Google Maps / stress head guy and Maddie is the along for the ride / chill out girl. A perfect mix. Little did Maddie know but 'travel compatibility' was the last thing on Lucas' future wife checklist (an actual thing) ... and so on 27 March 2024, Lucas proposed at Meelup Beach in Dunsborough, a place that reminds us of home. From high school sweethearts to best friends, we’re so excited for everything still to come… and even more excited to celebrate it all with you! <3