Our Story Our story begins at Grace College— well, at least that’s where Emma would say it began. They lived in the same dorm during freshman year but never actually spoke. Still, Emma noticed Steven from the very beginning. Over the next three years, they shared the occasional Snapchat conversation, but that was it. Emma waited patiently, always hoping that one day something more might happen. That moment came during their senior year, when Steven reached out and asked Emma to play pickleball. (If you know Emma, you know she couldn’t say no.) They played for a while, and Emma couldn’t stop smiling—or staring. A few days later, they played again—this time, they didn’t just play; they talked, laughed, and connected over everything. Something just clicked. Not long after, Steven asked Emma on their first official date: mini golf and ice cream. Emma was nervous—what if it didn’t go well? But little did she know, she was sitting across from the man she'd one day marry. That night, they talked about their faith, life goals, values, and the kind of future they dreamed about. From that point on, their relationship has been full of joy, purpose, laughter, and deep connection. The Proposal They had talked about getting engaged many times, and Emma was convinced she’d definitely know when it was going to happen. But Steven had been carefully planning behind the scenes—down to the last detail. He collaborated with jewelers across the world to design the perfect ring and secretly coordinated with both of their families to plan a proposal that Emma would never forget. With the help of Emma’s sisters, Sophia and Raegan, a celebratory dinner was planned in Saint Joseph, Michigan to mark the beginning of Emma’s new job and the upcoming school year. After dinner, they went down to the beach to take photos. That’s when Emma saw him—Steven, dressed in all white, standing by the water, waiting just for her. It was the most beautiful moment, made even more special by the thoughtfulness behind it all. The next day, Steven surprised Emma again with a lakeside celebration surrounded by their closest family—full of love, laughter, and happy tears. Looking Ahead Now, Steven and Emma are joyfully planning their wedding and looking forward to beginning their life together as husband and wife. They’re counting down the days until June 12, 2026, and can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter with all the people they love most.