Erin's story: It was my Sophomore year at Western and I remember continuously walking into class in the same WMU softball tracksuit I wore every Thursday in preparation to catch the bus to the next series of games immediately after class. I remember seeing him the first day in a worn out, beat up orange Texas hoodie looking fooiiiinneee! The hoodie was nasty but he was so cute. His smile was so infectious and I can truthfully say I had never gotten butterflies like this in my life! Despite the fact that he was wearing a dirty Texas hoodie that he had cut meat up for 6 hours at Hardings in I still had this feeling he wouldn't be interested in me. Fast forward to the end of the semester and not a single move was made. We actually never said more than two words together and that was the occasional "hey" or "sup?" So unpromising. Naturally, I gave up thinking I'd just never see him again until one day randomly in the summer he messaged me asking me to hangout. I was so nervous I made my friend Brooke come with me. When we got there you could tell he was trying to be a little too cool but that lasted for about 5 seconds. We quickly dropped the act and realized we were both two crazy weirdos and had to get to know each other more. The next 6 years were a roller coaster of love and learning that we are so grateful to have done together.

Kyle's Story: We had planned a trip to Hollywood, FL to attend a wedding for one of Erin's friends. I had already made up in my mind that this thing was gonna happen soon and this was going to be the perfect timing to make the big move. Two days before I left Kalamazoo I went to the ring store and in no time I was sold on the one that was perfect for her. The salesperson told me I was the easiest sale she had ever made. I arrived in Romeo a day earlier than we planned, to surprise Erin. With that being said, she had not packed a single thing and I needed to find something to do while she got all her things situated for the trip. The next few hours of bowling with Steve (her dad), Howard and Jimbo, were the most stressful hours of my life. I was so nervous that she was going to go through my bag and find the little box rolled up in a bundle of socks. I told her in so many words not to go through my things but she didn't seem to grow suspicious and we were in the clear. The next day we left for Florida and once we were through security I knew that I was in the clear. I'm sure that any guy who has brought an engagement ring on a flight can relate. The first few days of the trip went great, the wedding went late Saturday night but I made her promise that we would get a sunrise picture on the pier Sunday morning. Sunday morning came very early as we had to catch an Uber to the pier which was a few miles from our air bnb. Erin sat there on the couch with her fresh makeup and said "I can't believe you made me get up this early, since when do you care about the sun?!" Then she slowly started to tear up and said "I'm just so tired I can't open my eyes." I told her we needed to wait outside for the Uber and the second the front door opened and the sun beamed in she began to griddy and smile. She truly is a gem in the morning. As we walked down the pier I could tell she no longer regretted the sunrise decision, while she quoted the Pelican from "Finding Nemo." Saying, "Climb in my mouth and I'll take you to see your son, Nemo" to every pelican on the railing of the pier that day (There was at least 10.) We circled back to the perfect spot on the pier and I made my move. Similar to my move to ask her out, she didn't see it coming.