Mitchell and Emily’s story began long before their first date. They actually met back in 5th grade, sitting at the same table in Mrs. Goddeeris’ class. While Mrs. Goddeeris was teaching math, Emily’s favorite subject, Mitchell decided to play footsies under the table. Emily ignored him until he accidentally kicked her a little too hard, so she returned the favor with a kick of her own. Years went by, and fate brought them back together when Mitchell became friends with Emily’s cousin, Jack. Mitchell soon became part of the family, and they were friends for a couple of years. Then in July of 2020, on a group vacation to Florida, they finally admitted they liked each other. Soon after returning home, Mitchell took Emily on a date to Kyoto restaurant in Kalamazoo, and not long after, on August 28, 2020, Mitchell asked Emily to be his girlfriend. They spent the next few years doing long distance. Emily studying finance at Western Michigan University and Mitchell working full-time as an electrician in Macomb. The 3-hour drives every other weekend were tough, but their love made it easy. Over the years, Mitchell and Emily have shared countless adventures and unforgettable moments together: skiing/snowboarding down the slopes, rocking out at concerts (shoutout, Greta Van Fleet), skydiving together, dune bugging across the sand dunes, exploring caves in Tennessee, to floating in a hot air balloon. They have also cheered each other on through every milestone: from Emily graduating college and earning her securities licenses, to Mitchell passing his journeyman’s test and buying his first home. One of their favorite chapters came when Mitchell’s mom, Julie, brought Jinko, their beloved cat and Mitchell’s shadow, into their lives, making their little family feel complete. Their greatest adventure yet came during their 5-year anniversary getaway in September 2025. They spent the weekend at Mitchell’s family cottage in Roscommon before heading to Traverse City for the day. On their last hike, at Old Mission Pointe Trail, Emily turned around to find Mitchell down on one knee. On August 28, 2026, Mitchell and Emily will say “I do” on their six-year anniversary. They are so thankful for everyone joining them on their big day and cannot wait to celebrate with all their favorite people. Let the countdown begin!