WE'RE (finally) GETTING MARRIED!

After three weeks of forgetting to check our dating app we finally decided to meet up for a date. It was a cold and windy October night at the stone arch bridge, but the continuous laughs of the night kept us warm, along with the fact that we were both too stubborn to admit how cold we actually were. We walked around talking about anything and everything trying to keep the night from ending. It was an instant connection from the start- even before either of us said a word to each other. After about three hours we decided to call it a night as my hands were about to freeze off and Shane's ears were as red as the Nebraska logo. Shane was quite the gentleman and walked me back to my car. As soon as we got there, we both paused. We knew the night was over and we we're both a little disappointed. We could've hung out all night, but we both had to work early the next morning. As I stood there, I was hoping that what I felt all night was mutual, and hoping that Shane was going prove that to me. And so he did. Before I got into my car for the night, Shane leaned in for a hug and after the hug for a kiss. When Shane kissed me, fireworks went off, and I mean that in the most cheesy, Disney princess way possible. It was nothing short of magical. I knew Shane felt it too because we both stepped back and said "Woah" at the same time. We both smiled at each other and said goodbye. I got in my car and left. I immediately called Elizabeth, who has generously agreed to be officiating our wedding, and told her I just had the best date ever. I didn't know it at the time, but Shane also immediately called his best friends Andrew and Natalie and told them that I was the girl he was going to marry. And here we are.

I knew she was the one after our first date. I was very nervous to propose to Allie! I knew she would say yes, but it's a big step. A few weeks prior to me popping the question I called Mike and Amy to ask for their blessing. They said yes, so game on! I went ring shopping and picked out rings for both of us. Allie was coming down from Minnesota to Nebraska to come to see the apartment we just got together! It was early December and her favorite holiday is Christmas. We agreed to put the Christmas tree up together when she got there that weekend to make it a little more homey and bright, plus she's obsessed with Christmas trees. Since I knew we were going to be setting up the tree together and I knew her love for Christmas I decided to wrap the ring as her present under the tree. When she got in that night we made dinner, watched a Christmas movie, and set the tree up. After the movie, I told her we should open the presents we got for each other since we weren't going to be spending Christmas together that year. So I poured her some wine and turned on some Christmas music to set the mood. I wrapped my ring under the tree so I could propose to her with the right ring. When she opened the ring she was very confused and looked toward me. I was kneeling with her ring box opened. I told her she was my best friend and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. She started crying and could barely get any words out! After a few aggressive head nods a little "yes" came out and she hugged me! It worked out perfectly.