Our love story began in the most unexpected way, as all the best stories do. It was 2014, my freshman year of high school, and I had just moved to Stanton, Iowa, from Treynor, Iowa. Before that, I’d spent the first half of my life in Texas. The summer of 2013 brought the move to Treynor, and after about a year and a half, my family bought a house in Stanton, an even smaller town. Life was busy, full of adjustments to new schools and unfamiliar faces. Finding love was the last thing on my mind. But as fate would have it, love had other plans. We first crossed paths in everyday classes because our class at the time had only 14 students! I had noticed Tanner from the moment I arrived, but our story didn’t really begin until sophomore year. That’s when our wonderful Spanish teacher, Mrs. Rico, assigned us seats next to each other, an unassuming decision that would change everything. Casual conversations turned into daily chats—a shared laugh here, a funny comment there—and soon he became a bright spot in my day. Tanner had this way of making me feel at ease in a place that still felt so new. I remember the moment I decided to be brave. Winter Formal was approaching, and after weeks of going back and forth, I finally mustered the courage to ask him to go with me. It was the day before Christmas break, a day filled with school-wide games like dodgeball and tug-of-war, while I was bubbling with nerves. Tanner was on crutches from a basketball injury, which only added to the logistics of my plan. To keep things light, I decided to give everyone in our class a small treat with a cute pun. For Tanner, it was a bag of Sweet-Tarts with a sign that read, “Will you be a SWEET-TART and go to Winter Formal with me?” My best friend and personal attendant, Abbi Dollen, was in on the plan. Her mission? Ensure Tanner made it upstairs to our lockers, despite the snow and his crutches. When he arrived, winded and rosy-cheeked, he looked both confused and irritated—understandably so. I handed him the bag of candy and sign, and though the moment was incredibly awkward, he said yes. The weeks leading up to the dance were filled with conversations over Christmas break and at school, and that Winter Formal became one of our first cherished memories together. From that moment, our connection grew naturally. Despite mishaps like slamming my finger in a door or nervously running a stop sign, I quickly realized Tanner’s calming presence was exactly what I needed. He was the person I was meant to spend my life with. Of course, every great love story has its moments of hilarity or mishap. Tanner’s official request for me to be his girlfriend came on a bus ride home from a softball/baseball game, thanks to some good-natured pestering from a classmate. When he asked, I jokingly said, “No,” and chaos ensued as the joke spread through the bus like wildfire. (Don’t worry, I quickly reassured him, “I’m so sorry, I was just joking. Yes, I’d love to be your girlfriend.”) It’s those moments—funny, awkward, and completely us—that have made our story so special. As the months turned into years, we built a foundation of love, trust, and laughter. Together, we’ve shared high school, college, nursing school, our careers, our first home, and now our dream home and wedding. Each memory has solidified what we both knew from the start: we’re meant to be. Now, as we prepare to say “I do,” we’re so excited to share this next chapter with all of you. Our story is still being written, and we can’t wait to celebrate the beginning of forever with those we hold dearest.