We can't wait to celebrate with you

Ceremony and reception at Prairie Oak Lodge at Wanatee Park 1600 Banner Drive Marion, IA 52302 Please arrive in time for the ceremony to begin at 2:30 PM.

Kyra was on week one of her new hostess/waitress job at the much-missed Mill in Iowa City. Matt was stopping in for a beer after a game night with friends. Kyra's co-workers invited her for some post-shift libations and socialization, during which she and one of her co-workers struck up a conversation with Matt. They spent the whole evening conversing and marveling at how much fun they were having together. The next week, Kyra asked Matt out to drinks at Dublin Underground, and the rest, as they say, is history.

When Kyra moved to Des Moines, I promised to visit her 'every once in a while.' That quickly became every other weekend and even some quick weeknight visits. Our love blossomed as we studied together in her apt and at various coffeeshops. Well, Kyra studied while I tried to distract her with dad jokes and puns. We took side trips to hike, ski and visit breweries as well as see our favorite caribou and buffalo herds at Jester State Park.

On a trip to the North Shore in Minnesota, we stopped at the Susie Islands Overlook in Grand Portage near the Canadian border. We'd had 3 days full of hiking, laughing, swimming, campfires, moonlit nights, and exploring all that the beautiful nature of northern Minnesota has to give. After looking over the railing at islands floating in Lake Superior and the coniferous forests and bluffs on either side of us, Matt surprised Kyra by getting down on one knee, presenting her with a ring, and asking her to marry him. She, of course, said yes. Matt timed it perfectly so that there were no other travelers around, and a family that pulled up right after Matt proposed was kind enough to hang back to allow us our moment and then congratulated us and offered to take our photos (see above). The rest of the day was spent reflecting on everything we've learned from each other, all of the amazing things we bring to each others' lives, and all of our hopes for the future. We celebrated with some beer, an order of poutine, a hike to High Falls, and embraces by the campfire that night. It felt like a wonderful dream.