The Ostermanns

If you ask Alex: Kayla and I first met on the last day of the Wisconsin Association of School Councils (WASC) camp, in the atrium of Edgewood College in 2012. I was preparing to start high school, and Kayla was heading into 8th grade. Despite living only 30 minutes apart, in middle school, that distance felt like hours. However, our friendship grew steadily. We crossed paths at summer camp, reunions, band competitions, and even at our siblings’ sporting events. Thankfully, the very thing that introduced us—WASC Camp—continued to bring us closer. Kayla and I joined the camp staff together each summer. Over time, we developed feelings for each other, but it never seemed like the right moment. In the summer 2019, we both staffed the same level of camp! Our friend group began traveling together, venturing around the midwest. That summer solidified something for me—I knew Kayla was someone I wanted in my life forever. In 2021, I moved to the Twin Cities. Though my relocation from Wisconsin was work-related, a huge benefit was being closer to friends—including Kayla. We spent more and more time together—dinners, concerts, and exploring the cities. Despite our growing connection, we remained just friends. Yet, almost everyone in my life kept asking the same question: “When are you finally going to date Kayla?” One night, after making tacos at her apartment, I finally asked Kayla out. She gently reminded me how great our friendship was and that we wouldn’t want to risk it. But deep down, I knew we were meant to be together. Even that tragic friend-zone moment didn’t discourage anyone in our circle; they all continued to ask when we’d make it official. Six months later, the moment finally arrived. Maybe I made the move. Maybe she did. (She probably says she did, right?) But from that point on, everything changed. Our love story truly began, and every day since has been an adventure—full of home projects, bike and motorcycle rides, and new experiences. I can’t wait to build a lifetime of memories with Kayla by my side. If you ask Kayla: Growing up, I loved being friends with Alex and his twin, Zach. Knowing the cool older guys from Cedarburg was a major status symbol. From hanging out at my brother’s baseball games to reconnecting at marching band competitions, I always enjoyed their company. I especially loved seeing them each summer at WASC camp. Fast forward to college, and I was staffing WASC Camp for the first time. I was SO nervous—this had been my dream for years! But the moment I walked into staff training and saw Alex’s familiar face, I felt an instant sense of comfort. Over that week, our friendship deepened. We laughed, we “seized the day,” and Alex quickly became someone I admired, trusted, and genuinely enjoyed being around. A part of me always loved Alex. Even as friends, we would talk on the phone for hours, signing off with an “I love you” that baffled friends and family alike. But—much to the frustration of literally everyone who knew us—I resisted letting that love become something more... likely because even back then I knew deep down he was the end game. Finally, everything changed in 2022. We began spending more and more time together—trying new restaurants, exploring breweries, and going to concerts. In July 2022, we saw Top Gun: Maverick together. I will caveat to say that neither of us explicitly called it a “date,” but I had decided that this particular hangout was a test for the future of our relationship. Sitting there with the large Marcus Theaters bucket of popcorn between us, I was pretty convinced Alex and I were destined to be best friends, nothing more. But our post-movie debrief at a local dive bar changed everything. Something shifted, and not long after, we officially started dating. And the rest is history. On September 28, 2024, Alex popped the question and I couldn’t have been more thrilled to say “yes” to spending forever with him. I can’t wait to be Mrs. Ostermann!