Our story didn’t begin with childhood memories or growing up side by side. Brandon grew up in Illinois and moved to Princeton in middle school, while Allison had already been there for years. We knew of each other for a long time, but it wasn’t until the summer before senior year that we really started talking. It began with quick, easy conversations during summer sports practices. Brandon would walk through the gymnastics gym on his way to the weight room, and one day, in an attempt to impress Allison, he decided to try a front flip on the gymnastics floor. The attempt ended in an epic failure, but it caught Allison’s attention just enough to spark conversation. Over time, those short exchanges slowly turned into longer ones. On Valentine’s Day 2018, Brandon asked to make it official, a classic. From there, we started spending more time together, and by the summer after graduation we were seeing each other nearly every day while working at Home Depot. That summer was also when we really started noticing how different we were. Allison grew up around horses, while Brandon was a city kid through and through. Even then, Brandon jumped right in, helping out at shows, learning along the way, and always willing to be part of whatever mattered most. When Allison left for college, things shifted. Distance and new routines weren’t always easy, but they showed us how much we meant to each other. Over the years, we’ve grown up side by side through college, job changes, COVID, and all the uncertainty that comes with early adulthood. We’ve been challenged in ways we didn’t expect, but we’ve always been there for each other. Brandon has a way of making Allison laugh when she needs it most, and Allison has always been someone Brandon can lean on, someone who listens, encourages, and supports him. In recent years, we’ve really settled into who we are together. We’ve made memories big and small, explored new places, and built a life that feels steady, fun, and very much our own. On New Year’s Eve, Brandon proposed. He had been trying to plan something for a while but ultimately kept it simple, and even after nearly eight years together, he was still nervous. When Allison walked in and saw Brandon waiting with roses, the answer was an easy yes. Later that night, we went out for a very nice dinner and started talking about what comes next.

Life looks a lot different now than it did when we first met, and this season feels full in a very real way. We are both busy, settled into our careers, and figuring out how to balance work, family, and everything else life throws at us. Allison is working as an Investment Banking Associate at the same firm she joined right after graduating. The hours can be long and unpredictable, but it is work she is proud of. Brandon is still with Home Depot and is now an operations manager at his fourth store in St. Louis Park. In late 2025, he also joined the Maple Grove Fire Department, where he is part of Station 3, something he takes a lot of pride in. Outside of work, Allison stays especially busy in the spring, summer, and fall, spending many evenings back in Princeton riding, training, and being at the barn with her horses. At home, life includes our two cats, Smudge and Nox, who keep things interesting and make sure there is never a quiet moment for long. Between demanding jobs, time at the barn, fire department responsibilities, and everyday life, finding time together is not always easy. But it has made us more intentional and more appreciative of the time we do get. Whether it is a quick dinner together, a quiet night at home, or a weekend away, those moments mean a lot to us. This season of life is busy, imperfect, and sometimes chaotic, but it feels steady and good. We are grateful for where we are now and excited for what comes next.

One of our favorite ways to spend time together has always been exploring new places. Over the years, we have traveled both near and far, making memories along the way and learning a lot about each other in the process. We have taken several trips to Illinois to visit family, including time spent in downtown Chicago, and have made many visits to Arizona to spend time with family while exploring Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Sedona. We have traveled to Las Vegas twice, including a trip to the NFR with Allison’s family, and headed to San Diego with Brandon’s mom, along with AJ and Gabby, for one of AJ’s hockey tournaments. We have also been lucky enough to travel all the way to Paris, a trip we will never forget and hope to repeat someday. Most recently, we spent time in Oahu, Hawaii, which was especially meaningful as our first true trip just the two of us. Whether it is a quick weekend away or a bigger adventure, traveling together has become one of our favorite ways to make memories, and we are excited to keep doing that as we step into this next chapter together.