We are getting Married!!!

We met through 2 not 1 (hence the hashtag) dating apps. We first matched on Bumble with Megan being the first to say hi. On that Saturday night, we were both out with friends but we kept up a flowing conversation through chatting on the apps. Even with us talking on Bumble I, Shiloh, continued to look on Tinder and matched with Megan, again, after swiping right (hence #SwipeRight2Risetter). Eventually, Megan asked me for my snapchat AND phone number. We messaged back and forth non-stop! I, Megan, knew there was something special about Shiloh and my heart told me I needed to meet Shi. I drove to Coralville, picked Shiloh up after work, and took her out for dinner. We went to the Mill in IC, our poor waitress had to come back at least 5 times to take our order because we kept talking and couldn't pause to pick out what we wanted. After talking for over 3 hours, I talked Megan into coming over to my apartment to watch the Office. Although no Office was actually watched, we stayed up until 4 in the morning continuing to talk and learn more about each other. Having an amazing first date that neither of us wanted to end our second date for sure topped it! I, Shiloh, had to drive to MN on the following Saturday for a wedding. Megan suggested that I come to Waterloo to stay at her place Friday night and then leave in the morning so the drive would be shorter. Again, we spent the night talking and watching the Cubs. GO CUBS GO!! When I was getting ready to leave in the morning, Megan excitedly asked if I wanted a passenger. That's right our second date was a 5 hour drive to MN. I also met Megan's mom and stepdad and witnessed Megan ralf on the side of the road due to carsickness... what an exciting third date. We moved pretty fast if you haven't noticed yet. We tried the whole long distance thing and only lasted 4 months before we decided to take a leap and move in together which landed us together in our prefect townhome in North Liberty.

I knew I wanted to marry Megan very early on (and if you don't believe me I have a video). When we first started dating and were talking about engagements in general Megan said that she never cared to be proposed to but, if she did then it better be in Chicago at Wrigley Field. Well that kinda put me in a bind. Before I dated Megan I always said that I wanted to be proposed to first. However, when I realized how special and unique Megan was I knew I had to act and lock that girl down. I had 2 ideas; one of course was Wrigley but I knew I wanted her family to be there too and that was going to be a hard thing to have people from all over be able to come. Next, I thought of "copying" her idea of how she asked me out. She did this by using a kid magnetic board at Singlespeed Brewery in Waterloo. She used magnetic letters to spell out Shi- be my girlfriend -love meg. I started planning this back in April but had to wait all the way until June 29th to actually ask her. Every part of the night was planned to every single detail (sorry night shift coworkers). I tricked Megan into going to Waterloo to have dinner with a friend that lives there. I wanted Megan's family to be involved but wanted our moment to be private as well. To make this happen I had a few friends video us and then surprised her with everyone else in a separate private party room. Family and friends from 5 states came to celebrate with us, including my Aunt Tara that told me earlier she wouldn't be able to come and Megan's bestfriend Kasie with her baby Raina. However, not everything went perfectly, on our drive to the restaurant I got a text from my mom saying "don't freak out but there isn't any electricity at the restaurant and it's closed!" Although it took some convincing to get Meg into the restaurant the rest of the night although it was hot went off amazingly!

I knew I wanted to propose to Shiloh. I wanted to surprise her just wasn't sure how. First things first, I decided I was going to design her ring. I wanted to create something that literally was unique yet screamed Shiloh. Saturday, June 15th, 2019: was the date I had my appointment with the jeweler to design Shiloh's ring. Poor timing on Megatron's part, it was also Iowa City Pride that same day. Shiloh had been planning to go to Iowa City Pride since we moved to North Liberty back in January. She was SO excited and had the entire day planned out starting bright and early at 10AM with Tanya (my classmate and roommate at the time) and I. The appointment was scheduled at 8:30 that morning. I had Tanya drive me to my "work meeting" since she had "errands" to run, too.I thought "heck it won't take that long. I should be good to go and done by 10 when Shiloh was ready to leave." Boy oh boy was I wrong.. 10 AM rolls around and I am no where near being done. Tanya was with me helping design the ring, texting Shiloh saying she was needing to find a shirt then she will be home and ready to go. Shiloh was texting my phone telling me how annoyed she was that Tanya wasn't ready (poor Tanya, she was/ is such a trooper, if it wasn't for her there would be no way I would have pulled it off the way we did). I didn't reply or answer her calls since I was still at my work "meeting" which only fueled Shiloh's fire. Tanya left me to go back home and finish getting ready and meet Shiloh. Finally, around 11AM I was finished up and called Shiloh to have her and Tanya pick me up so we could go to Pride. The minute I got into the car I literally could cut the tension with a knife. Shiloh was fuming, beyond annoyed, and finally let me hear it once we parked the car. She reiterated how disappointed she was with my planning and annoyed with both Tanya and myself. I remember thinking "this little turd, if only she knew what I was really up to at my "work meeting."

After I had Shiloh's ring in hand, I started brainstorming my surprise proposal.. I contacted her mom asking for her permission, she gave me the okay, thanks Sandy ;) June 15th, 2019 I designed Shiloh's ring.. June 22nd Shiloh and I were in Minnesota visiting my mom and step-dad. While we were there, I made sure to show my mom the ring. I was anxious and excited. Mom asked me, "So, what's your plan? How and when do you think you will propose to Shiloh?" I told Mom I didn't really have a plan yet and it all was still in the works. Mom's response, "Do it when the time is right, always have that ring in your pocket because you will never know when that perfect chance will come." Wish I would've listened to Mom's advice... 1 week later: June 29th, 2019 Just an ordinary Saturday, driving to Waterloo with Shiloh and Tanya to meet our friend Rachel for dinner at Singlespeed Brewery. I was feeling good, freshly showered, dressed up...without ring in pocket. Remember when I said I should've listened to mom's advice? Yeah, me too. We get to Singlespeed and I'm instantly blindfolded. The rest is kind of a blur. I remember removing my blindfold, seeing Shiloh on one knee, reading "Meg, be my wife" on the same magnetic board I asked her to be my girlfriend, and me saying "yes." To top it off, I was surprised in the party room with all my family and friends! After I gathered my bearings, I looked at Tanya and Rachel and they knew. They took the keys, drove back to North Liberty to get the ring, and drove back to Singlespeed. We spent the night sharing lots of laughs, stories, and making memories. At the end of the night, with Shi by my side I gave a little speech thanking everyone for coming to celebrate with us. I took Shiloh's hand, told her I can't help falling in love with her, dropped to a knee and asked her to marry me. Shi was literally shocked, tearful, speechless. In that moment my heart was overflowing. I knew this is just the start.. the best is yet to come...