***The ceremony will now be inside the Empire Room, not Turner Park. The RSVP link below does not work. Please text Lydia at 402-680-9413 to RSVP.

Matt and Lydia first met while participating in the concert band at Doane University. Matt played trombone and Lydia played trumpet, so they usually sat close to each other. Messing around in band rehearsals became second nature (sorry Dr. Gilbert), and they quickly became good friends.

On vacation at Matt's Aunt Meggan's lakehouse in Gun Barrel City, TX, Matt woke Lydia up early one morning to suggest watching the sun come up over the water. Suspecting nothing, Lydia agreed and casually sat on the porch swing. They talked about their goals in life and how they wanted to better themselves together. That's when he got down on one knee, and of course, she said yes!