We're so excited to celebrate with you!

Growing up Chris and Maddie went to the same church - Mount Olivet - which continues to be a big part of their lives today even from Chicago. You could say they “met” in preschool when Mary (Chris' Mom) would drive them to after-school activities at church with their siblings. Don’t be fooled though - this isn’t a story about falling in love in the sandbox, or at middle school dances, or even at high school parties. Maddie and Chris did attend two high school dances together but that was strictly as friends. They became better friends senior year when they would play basketball together after church choir. In keeping with tradition, they both headed off to the University of Wisconsin for college together. They stayed “just friends” for most of their first two years there. For a while it seemed like everyone knew, except Maddie and Chris, that they were meant for each other. They spent time at tailgates and football games together - as friends. Chris was invited to join Maddie at the freshman girls Bible study - as friends. Chris offered to bring over dinner after a long day at the library - you guessed it, as friends. Finally, towards the end of sophomore year, a lightbulb went on and they both realized they were maybe more than just friends. By August they were officially dating and never looked back. Maddie and Chris grew closer during their semester abroad - in Germany and the Netherlands - highlighted by Valentine’s Day in Paris and spent summers on camp staff at Mount Olivet’s Cathedral of the Pines camp. A few years of long distance had nothing on them and when Maddie finally made it to Chicago they knew they were in it for the long haul.

Chris had always planned to propose during the summer of 2020 at Cathedral of the Pines in Lutsen, MN, during their annual volunteer week at camp. However, like many other things, the pandemic threw a wrench in his plans. On a visit back to Minnesota, Chris picked out the engagement ring and Maddie's parents brought it with them on their next visit to Chicago (Roger couldn't wait to turn the ring over to Chris as soon as possible!). For a while it seemed like everyone knew but Maddie. They took a week off in late September to stay in a little cabin at a lakeside resort in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Chris and Maddie spent quality time together hiking, canoeing, reading, doing puzzles and enjoying a much needed change of scenery. Maddie kept saying "this is so relaxing" while Chris couldn't seem to stay asleep past 5am thinking about popping the question. On their first tour of the resort, Chris found the perfect spot to propose - two Adirondack chairs on a small deck overlooking the lake. He made sure that every night around 5:30pm the two of them enjoyed happy hour at that same spot. He might have done too well setting up this routine because when he finally proposed on Friday night, Maddie was shocked! She hadn't suspected a thing - think wet hair and socks with sandals; packing makeup on the trip hadn't even crossed her mind. She finally replied with a YES! Maddie briefly confused things by holding out both of her hands making Chris very unsure where to put the ring. They eventually figured it out. Their parents and brothers surprised Maddie and celebrated the happy couple with lots of champagne and good times!