We met in college through mutual friends (shout out to Cory and Kate). While the exact date we met is not clear, we think it was probably around 2011/2012. However, our first confirmable encounter (with horrible pictures) was at a VEISHEA kick off party our junior year at Iowa State. All I (Shelby) really remember about Jake from that night is that he had a mohawk that defied the laws of gravity. Fast forward to St. Patrick’s Day 2015 when we ran into each other at a country bar in downtown Des Moines despite us both hating country music. We stayed in touch for a little while but ultimately lost touch again. We reconnected when I graduated from law school in 2017 for a celebratory drink and again in 2018 but went our separate ways. Jump to Summer 2021 when we both swiped right on Bumble and I started the conversation with the classic “Hey Stranger!” We had our first date over chicken tender salads and Vegas bombs and the rest is history as they say. We moved to Centerville in December 2022 and bought our house in April 2023. We were lucky enough to get our Noodle puppy in June 2023. We still hate country music but we still think of that country bar in Des Moines fondly as we would likely not be where we are today if not for that fateful St. Patty's Day nearly ten years ago. On a Thursday night in January 2024, when we were both already in pajamas, Jake asked me to have a dance with him in the kitchen after dinner, a common practice in the Bird-Ball household. While dancing to Unforgettable by Nat King Cole Jake got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. In our own home, with our dog aggressively trying to join in on the dance, and in our comfiest clothes, we agreed to spend our lives together. It has been a journey 12+ years in the making and we can’t wait to celebrate our love with our favorite people!