Our first date wasn't super conventional, but after talking on the phone and texting all the time, we decided to go for a drive, seeing if our chemistry kept up being face-to-face. We did, in fact, have chemistry, as nervous as we both were! He came to pick me up directly after work. I was nervous but excited to greet this man I had so much in common with. I was surprised to find he was a gentleman and was as nervous as I was. He was sweet and gentle with me, in a way I've never seen before, and rarely after. He was handsome, and at the time, he had long hair that flopped in his face, cute lips that cocked in a crooked smile, sparkling dark eyes, and the whitest, straightest teeth. I think I fell for him before I ever knew. After talking for a bit, we had a comfortable silence, listening to the music playing for a bit, and I fell asleep! I wasn't even tired, just so comfortable in his presence and space; he's been that safe place for me ever since. We've had ups and downs since that moment, but nothing I'll ever regret. We are each others strenghts, and we build each other up every day. We are grateful to everyone who has helped and guided us on this path. We thank you, those who are celebrating this union with us, and those who cannot be here to celebrate as well. We love all of you.

Being with Lauren has made me realize how much I can love someone and still be myself. Nothing else matters to me more than seeing and hearing what it is she has to share with the world. She is not only a blessing to me, but to everyone around her. She is someone that I'm glad to have found and share every obstacle with. Working in the food industry makes me cherish moments with Lauren during the holidays. That's why when it came time to propose to her, I knew that Zoo Lights was the place that I felt was appropriate. We had only been once before, but it was a night we both loved because we share a love for the holidays. It's seeing the Christmas lights, while also being at the zoo, that makes it so much more memorable. I had planned it the day of my birthday, since my schedule lined up for it perfectly. We both planned out the day, her unknowingly what's to come. Come the night of the proposal, I was nervous as to what to say. Being with her, I knew it probably didn't matter what I was going to say. All that mattered was being under the big Christmas tree, surrounded by so many lights that it was going to be a Birthday that I'm never going to forget.