Maggie and Ryan met at Mars Cafe, in the Drake neighborhood of Des Moines, in December of 2019. Maggie worked there as a barista and was hosting an art show with some of her photography. Ryan had been hustling that week to finish renovating a home in the neighborhood, so he was running on fumes by the time the art show rolled around. A mutual friend, Izaac, convinced him to rally and check it out, and briefly introduced him to Maggie at the show. This initial conversation led to a blooming friendship over the years. Ryan would visit Mars Cafe for work meetings while Maggie was working, becoming something of a “crushtomer” for her. She was particularly intrigued one frigid day when Ryan stopped in for a coffee on his way to winter camp with his brother Erik in a snow storm. They connected over their shared love of the outdoors, getting to know each other better on group camping, paddling, cycling, and foraging trips with friends.

In October of 2022, Ryan asked Maggie out on their first date. He was borrowing a friend’s haggard 1970 Ford flat bed, and reckoned it would be fun to take it out for a sunset picnic together at Badger Creek. They rumbled out on gravel roads cranking Chris Stapleton, spent a lovely evening at the lake, and took forever getting back into town because Ryan couldn’t get the headlights to work. The fumes of an old engine running rich and the thrill of mechanical failure just added to the excitement of finally being together.

Many dates later, we are still just as excited to find ourselves on adventures, big and small. In spring of 2024, we started living together in a turn-of-the-century home near downtown Des Moines, along with Maggie’s two cats and Ryan’s twelve chickens. Together with some of our friends, we tend a half-acre urban garden down the street, and spend time outdoors as much as possible. Your love and support over the years means the world to us. We would be honored to celebrate our wedding day in your presence, and usher in this next adventure of our relationship.