We had our first date at a coffee shop in Ypsilanti, in the afternoon on New Year's Eve 2018. Chad had recently been chewed out at a different first date for assuming that he should pay for the date, so taking this new advice into consideration he stood back and let Rebecca pay for her own coffee before stepping up and paying for his! We know it must have been a good first date for Chad and Rebecca, because Rebecca was pretty shocked by the untraditional maneuver. After over-analyzing the situation with her best girlfriends and their partners that night at the NYE party, it was agreed by all that Chad was being unassumingly polite (which he was) and that a second date was in the stars. Rebecca put Chad straight to work on their second date, having him help her move out of her apartment and into a house. They went to the movies after (Chad paid!) and they've been working on house projects with their pup, Gus, by their side ever since.

Chad, Rebecca, and Gus went on a camping - or more appropriately, ahem, glamping - trip in southwestern Michigan over a long weekend in early spring. They hiked, cooked food over the fire, and were there for two whole nights before Rebecca turned around after making pancakes and bacon breakfast on the third morning to see Chad there, presenting to her a ring box and asking her to marry him. She, of course, exclaimed "YES!" and the two of them celebrated with Gus for the rest of the trip. They came home to a surprise engagement dinner hosted by friends, and have felt so much joy and love from all family and friends ever since. We're so excited to be celebrating with each of you in May 2022!