We're getting married!

The first time that we met was probably back in the early 2000s, as our families would make summer trips to Camp Arcadia throughout our childhoods. We remember spending time together in bible studies, competing in tournaments, and dancing with each other at square dances during those summers. Little did we know what God had in store for us. It wasn't until the summer of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, that we reconnected as 2 of the 14 staffers back at Camp Arcadia. During the summer of social distancing, we were nearly inseparable. This meant bonding over long hours of work in the kitchen, staying up into the early hours of the morning, and spending as much time together as possible. We often would neglect our few, infrequent breaks, opting to "help" the other that wasn't on a break (it's probably more correct to say "distract" the one who was supposed to be working). Our 1st official date took place on July 15th, in downtown Frankfort, capped by a beautiful sunset at the Elberta overlook. We spent the rest of our days off that summer introducing each other to our favorite things to do in northern Michigan, like movie nights at the Cherry Bowl and dinners at Arcadia Bluffs. At the close of summer, we returned to our respective universities, excited to acquaint each other to our lives outside of camp.

After almost 3 years of dating, filled with an uncountable number of drives between West Lafayette, Indiana and Ann Arbor, Michigan, we were preparing to graduate from college. It was around that time that Josh began to think about engagement rings. As he told his mother about plans to propose to Emma, she gave him a massive surprise when she offered the engagement ring that she had received from Josh's father, Chris, 30 years earlier. The unexpected passing of Chris was a tragic event that shook the Schumann family, but also brought Josh and Emma even closer together as she supported the Schumanns throughout their grieving. This ring held immense value because it was present throughout the beautiful marriage of Josh's parents and would continue to serve as a reminder of that loving relationship. During the summer of 2023, Josh joined the Weber family on a trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and knew the trip would serve as a perfect opportunity to propose and celebrate, surrounded by family. In Gatlinburg, they got up early and drove to the trailhead of Mt. LeConte to embark on a 10-mile hike, up to the tallest peak in all of Tennessee. At the summit, Josh surprised Emma by dropping to one knee and proposing. Emma said yes! They descended the mountain with immense joy, often telling strangers they passed on their way that they had just become engaged! Little did Emma know that Josh had enlisted the help of the Weber family to organize a surprise party when they returned. They spent the remainder of the trip celebrating with family and enjoying talks about starting the wedding planning process. We are so excited for you all to join us in our next step come June 28th, 2024!