Like any great modern romance, ours started at a Ball State tailgate in October 2023. The funny thing is, we already knew many of the same people and had plenty of mutual friends, but somehow our paths had never crossed during all our years at Ball State. That finally changed when one of Nate's friends invited Maddie's friends to go to Roots after the tailgate. Enter Nate's giant, obnoxiously loud truck. Naturally, Maddie called shotgun. Before long, we were driving around blasting Hardy songs—back before Hardy became a household name—and somewhere between the music, laughter, and that truck that could probably be heard from three counties away, something clicked. After that night, we didn't talk much. So after waiting long enough for Nate to make a move, Maddie decided to take matters into her own hands and invited him to her Alpha Phi Winter Formal in December 2023. And that's where things got interesting. After what may or may not have been a little too much moonshine, Maddie found herself emotional enough to shed a few tears. Seeing his opportunity, Nate decided it was the perfect time to say three little words: “I love you.” Maddie, being the reasonable and composed person she is, promptly spilled her water everywhere and shouted: “YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW MY LAST NAME!" Thankfully, Nate wasn't scared away. In fact, he stayed. And he never really left. Since then, life has been one big adventure. We've spent countless weekends on the road, explored new cities together, soaked up the sun in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, sailed away on cruises, enjoyed all-inclusive resorts, and somehow managed to turn almost every trip into a story we'll be laughing about for years. Whether we're exploring somewhere new or just spending a quiet night at home, our favorite thing has always been doing life together. We've learned that it doesn't really matter where we are—as long as we're side by side, we're having fun. What started with a loud truck, country music, and a formal-night declaration of love turned into a relationship built on friendship, laughter, adventure, and unwavering support. Through every mile traveled, every memory made, and every challenge faced, we've continued choosing each other. Now, we're so excited to begin our greatest adventure yet: marriage. Thank you for being here to celebrate this chapter with us. We can't wait to see where the journey takes us next. And yes—Nate eventually learned Maddie's last name.