Janna and Mike initially connected on the dating app Hinge in February of 2021. They were smack in the middle of the COVID pandemic, and vaccines were not available to the general public yet. They didn’t want to meet up in person until they were both able to be vaccinated, so they got to know each other by texting and calling for a few months! Janna likes to say it almost felt like old-timey war letters between couples in some ways, with the risk of disease making them feel oceans apart, and it allowed them to get to know each other quite well before actually meeting in person. Their first date was at Indeed Brewing in late May 2021. Janna got caught in crosstown traffic and was late (though depending on how well you know Mike, you know that’s typically more of his move). It was one of the first sunny weekends of spring. Luckily Mike told Janna that he was at the end of the bar, because at that point, they had been texting and calling for so long outside of Hinge that she….. couldn’t remember what he looked like. To make things even tougher for her, Mike had deleted his Hinge profile before they ever met in person! Must have had a good feeling. From first sip to last call, the evening was so easy, so fun, and so unlike any other first date either of them had been on. In a lot of ways, it felt like they’d known each other a long time. They’ve bonded over their love of music, live shows, new restaurants, travel, nerdy niche interests, and their goofy senses of humor, and they’ve discovered (and are so grateful for) the found family with each other’s biological families and friend groups. They’re very excited to bring the families together. At this point, the couple has been together for five years. Through those five years, they’ve rubbed off on each other more than a little bit! Janna showed Mike “The Princess Bride” for the first time (which he now regards as the greatest movie of all time), has made him a fan of Broadway musicals, and encourages him to plan ahead a little more. Mike turned Janna into a soccer fan, emphasized the immense importance of reheating pizza in the restaurant oven (not the microwave!!), and makes sure she takes time to live in the moment. Mike talked Janna into running Grandma’s half marathon in Duluth this June while he runs the full. They’ve traveled to 14 states and 4 countries together, and are fierce and bitter New York Times Games rivals. After overcoming many job and life changes together, Mike proposed on October 3rd, 2025 at Hidden Falls in St. Paul, the site of the couple’s first kiss. He then surprised her by having both sets of parents waiting at La Grolla for dinner! The surprises hadn’t ended that evening, though, as Mike had a huge group of their friends waiting down the street at Moscow on the Hill to celebrate with them. The couple will be married at Redeemed Farm on October 3rd, 2026 - one year to the day after Mike proposed. The happy couple are so excited to host all of you in a celebration of love!