M & Em - 6.26.26

In my freshman year of nursing school, I was walking down the stairwell after class when I heard someone behind me say, "Emma! Emma!" No one else was on the stairs so I figured this person was trying to get my attention. When I turned around, I saw the cutest boy standing there. After telling him my name is actually Emily, the cute boy introduced himself as Matt. Cheesy as it sounds, that funny interaction was love at first sight. We never had a formal first date—just lunches after Friday nursing classes at North Quad Dining Hall, where we talked until the dining hall staff politely kicked us out. A few weeks later, we were doing everything together: cheering on Michigan football, late-night study sessions, and spending time with all of our friends. What started as a crush on the “cute nursing girl/boy” quickly grew into something so much deeper. As time passed, we became part of each other’s families, started dreaming of our future as a nurse and a doctor, and shared adventures around the world—from the British Virgin Islands to New York City to Hawaii, where Matt proposed on a beach full of love and serendipity (complete with a beach wedding occurring in the background, a reunion of puppies with their mother after being separated for over a year, and my parents surprising me by appearing during the big question). Since then, our love has only deepened, with Matt entering the Catholic Church and choosing my dad as his sponsor. We can’t wait to keep building our life together, and we ask for your prayers as we enter into marriage! *Thank you to my wonderful mama Heather Koch who took our engagement photos!