Tanner and Mallory met during their freshman year of college at Minnesota State University, Mankato. The two of them actually met before the school semester even started. Tanner was visiting with Emily Kyro who he had went to high school with, and she introduced the two of them. Emily and Mallory lived on the same floor, Crawford A4. Mallory was making the rounds with a couple of her friends and Tanner and Mallory may have only exchanged hellos but who would have known this would be the very beginning of our story! After that, Tanner and Mallory would see each other more frequently as Mallory spent more and more time with Emily and friends. Tanner was fortunate that he was cool enough for them to allow him to hang out. As time would go on Tanner would spend more time with them all - driving them wherever they wanted to go. Throughout this time, they would enjoy Chipotle down by the river, university events, concerts, time spent playing cards in their dorm rooms, and late-night trips to Walmart. Shortly after, Tanner would meet Mallory’s parents at family weekend, going to both the football and hockey games. Tanner would frequently ask for Mallory’s “help” to get his weekly math homework done, i.e., have her do it for him, but all these visits would help grow their relationship. On Valentine’s Day 2020, Tanner knew he wanted to do something special for Mallory. At the time, they had been seeing each other for months, but they hadn’t yet made it official. Tanner kept thinking to himself that asking her out on Valentine’s Day would be super cliché, so he decided to take a drive with her and once it was finally the 15th he asked if she would be his girlfriend. Mallory had no hesitations and of course said yes! Shortly after they started dating, they would find out that they would be forced to move out of the dorms and head back home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now 333 miles apart, they continued to stay close. With daily phone calls and Zoom Netflix dates, their relationship was stronger than ever. Tanner and Mallory would call each other in the morning, making breakfast together over Facetime and then talk about their days. During this time, Mallory was also fortunate to be able to take multiple trips to Champlin that spring and summer to meet Tanner’s friends and family. Tanner visited Pewaukee for the first-time early summer and got the full Wisconsin experience – including bingo on the beach, custard, and lots of cheese curds! Tanner and Mallory began collecting memories in every corner of the map. Their first adventure together was a surprise trip to the Black Hills in South Dakota. When Tanner landed a job with an airline, their travel possibilities expanded overnight! Taking full advantage of standby flights, they began exploring new cities together. Wandering through Pike Place Market in Seattle, soaking up the sun in San Diego, feeling the magic at Disney World, and enjoying the bright lights of Las Vegas were amongst the favorites. They also enjoyed a couple cruises with their friends over the years. Each destination brought new stories, laughs, and unforgettable moments, fueling their shared passion for experiencing the world side by side. For those who do not know, Tanner and Mallory even created a "travel fund" during COVID, which allowed them to explore so many places. They would go Instacart shopping in their free time because of their shared love for grocery shopping and the two of them put all the money earned from this towards their travels, and they continue to contribute to this fund to this day.

After years of growing together through college classes, meaningful time together, and countless adventures Tanner knew there was no one else he’d rather keep exploring life with than Mallory. Tanner had bought the ring months earlier, knowing without a doubt that Mallory was the one. He wanted the proposal to be unforgettable - something that captured the joy, spontaneity, and adventure the two of them had always shared. So, a few weeks out, he casually suggested they take a trip together. Without raising suspicion, the two began planning the getaway together. Tanner had a plan in mind, turning down a few of Mallory’s suggestions, guiding the conversation toward something truly special. Then, less than 48 hours before departure, he floated the idea of Hawaii. At first, Mallory was hesitant—it seemed too last-minute, and she wasn’t sure she could get out of work. What she didn’t know was that behind the scenes, Tanner was already pulling all the strings to make it happen. While in Waikiki, soaking in the warm breeze and ocean views, Mallory was completely unaware of what Tanner had planned. He kept the ring close, waiting for just the right moment. One evening, as they wandered near the edge of a marina at sunset, Tanner felt the timing was perfect. After stalling for a bit and pretending to admire the view, Mallory asked him to pose for a photo. Once his picture was taken, Tanner offered to snap a few of her, telling her to turn and look out toward the beach. As she faced the horizon, he dropped to one knee— ring in hand, Tanner waited as Mallory turned around. Her surprise was instant, and with a smile, she said yes! They spent the next few moments on the point, reflecting, smiling, and soaking in the magic of it all. As they began walking along the beach, a father and his daughter approached them with an unexpected gift: they had witnessed the proposal and snapped photos from afar, just in case. Thanks to their kindness, the moment was captured forever. We are so thankful for all of you who have contributed to our story and who have helped our relationship grow! We cannot wait to celebrate with you all on our big day!