Tyler and Michelle first crossed paths during their 8th grade class trip to Washington D.C. in the spring of 2002. They quickly became inseparable, spending most of the trip side by side as they explored the nation’s capital. It was on the long bus ride back to Ohio that something special happened—they shared their first kiss, a moment that marked the beginning of something they both knew was different. As the miles rolled by, they sat hand-in-hand, a quiet promise between them in the hum of the bus.

After the trip, Michelle and Tyler went their separate ways but stayed in touch for 12 years. In 2014, they reconnected and their first date at John Bryan State Park was a moment neither of them would forget. It was the start of something lasting. On New Year’s Eve in 2017, Tyler proposed to Michelle with his Grandma’s engagement ring, and without hesitation, she said, “Yes!” The couple then welcomed their beautiful baby boy, Michael Robert, on June 22nd, 2018. In 2022, they bought their first home together, ready to build a lifetime of memories. To this day, Tyler often says that Michelle was his love at first sight, and that staying in touch over the years was worth it.