The Mier Johnson Wedding
Our Story
Serendipity
Chapter One
It’s not just the title of an underrated 2001 rom-com starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale; it’s also the theme of Megan and Josh’s love story. For years, their lives grew parallel, crossing paths repeatedly without ever converging. They attended the University of Iowa at the same time. They started graduate programs at the University of Southern California the same semester and graduated on the same day. They once sat mere yards apart at an outdoor movie screening. “I didn’t realize I was stalking him for ten years.” – Megan. In Los Angeles, Megan packed a busy social calendar with dinners, concerts, and parties at all the hip venues in the city, giving herself every opportunity to meet the love of her life. Josh, the homebody, didn’t make it easy on her. In total, Megan and Josh lived in LA for six years simultaneously. But they never met. …That is, until a “wintry” Iowa night in mid-April. Megan had left the West Coast and was hunting for a good old Iowa boy. She wasted no time. Three days after driving halfway across the country, she met Josh at The Lift, a bar in downtown Des Moines. After a decade of close calls and missed connections, fate had finally caught up with them.
Meteoric Beginnings
Chapter Two
By the end of their first date, Megan and Josh felt they had known each other for years. So, things moved quickly. Two weeks later, Megan’s sister, Jenn, held a “Diaper Keg” (relax, it’s just a baby shower with beer), to which she invited Josh. Megan was unsure about what her new date would say when asked to meet her mom, sister, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law so soon. Without hesitation, Josh said, “Yes.” They grew so close so quickly that within a few weeks, Josh volunteered to help Megan drive cross-country with the rest of her belongings. During the trip, Josh contracted strep throat, and Megan physician-assisted him back to health. This illness is when Megan taught Josh the definition of “man flu.” “I almost died.” – Josh “No, he didn’t.” – Megan
Building a Life
Chapter Three
Since that snowy, fateful night in 2022, Megan and Josh have traveled together to LA, Newport Beach (on two Mier family vacations), Chicago, Omaha, Lake Tahoe (where Megan caught a bouquet), Florida, Toronto, Santa Barbara, and on a Caribbean Cruise with Josh’s family. They tirelessly worked on getting their cats “Grandma Marge” and “Spritely Sal” to love each other. (They settled on “tolerate.”) And they’ve made many wonderful, new friends in Des Moines’ East Village. Megan and Josh are thrilled to begin their new life together and celebrate their special day with loved ones.