Our story began long before we truly knew one another — back in 2017. Bre was a junior, attending prom with two of her closest friends, Ang and Kaitlin. Ian, a senior at the time, happened to be invited to the same event. Their paths crossed briefly when Bre was introduced to Ian by his date, but the moment passed without much thought. Like most people then, they connected on Facebook, carried on with their lives, and never could have imagined how differently things would unfold just two years later. Fast forward to 2019. Bre was settling into her first “real” job at a bank, while Ian had returned to Osage to start a new position working on the water. One afternoon, Bre and a friend were spending the day together. After a day of shopping, they stopped for a quick dinner at Steak ’n Shake. As they ate, Bre’s friend noticed a handsome guy paying for his meal and couldn’t resist pointing him out. Bre looked up, recognized him instantly, and laughed. “Absolutely not!” she said — and pulled up Ian’s Facebook profile to explain that they’d met once before. Before Bre knew what was happening, her friend had messaged him. Meanwhile, Ian was getting into his truck with his grandpa, Don, when his phone lit up with a message: “How was Steak ’n Shake?” That was the first message ever exchanged between Bre and Ian. Though confused, Ian replied, and after a few awkward back-and-forths (courtesy of Bre’s determined friend), Bre eventually took over the conversation herself — apologizing and turning what could have been an uncomfortable moment into the beginning of an easy friendship. They began chatting occasionally, eventually adding each other on Snapchat. A few weeks later, Bre was eager to see the new Men in Black movie but couldn’t find anyone to go with her. On a whim, she asked Ian. He agreed, though neither of them called it a “date.” When Friday arrived, Bre texted Ian to coordinate plans. He replied that he was “stuck in traffic” — though in truth, he was enjoying Taco Bell with a friend and his dog, Brutis. He invited Bre to stop by, but she declined (because, as she likes to say, she’s seen enough Dateline). Yet when he mentioned there was a dog involved, her love for dogs got the better of her, and she decided to go. What was meant to be a simple movie night turned into hours of conversation and driving around town. Later that evening, as they walked Brutis near the dam access, Ian apologized for “ruining” their date and admitted he hadn’t wanted their first one to be at a movie theater. Bre laughed and said, “That was going to be a date?!” From that night forward, they were inseparable. In the years since, Bre and Ian have shared seven unforgettable years together — filled with laughter, growth, late-night drives, and endless love. Through every season of life, they’ve continued to support one another and to cherish the simple joy of being together.