cheers to forever

Taylor and Jacob were both members of the Grand Valley Track & Field team for about a year before officially meeting in 2021. Taylor, a sophomore experiencing her first year on campus after COVID-19, was settling into college life, while Jacob was in his fourth year working toward his degree in social work. Their first real interaction happened during a Grand Valley football game with friends, and later that night, Jacob left quite an unforgettable impression at the after party... Two years later, Taylor hit a personal best in pole vault, earning a high national ranking. Jacob sent her a simple congratulations, and the rest was history. We officially started dating on June 12, 2023 (hence our wedding date). Since then, we’ve shared countless adventures—fishing trips, concerts, national parks, new restaurants, and most importantly, we’ve grown in our faith together. While Taylor was finishing her finance degree and competing in pole vault, Jacob was there at nearly every meet, cheering her on. Today, Taylor works as a licensed PC specialist, and Jacob works as an elementary school interventionist while earning his Master’s in School Counseling. On May 5, 2025, during the Holland Tulip Festival, Jacob proposed on the shores of Lake Michigan. Surrounded by our parents and some siblings, we celebrated with tears, joy, love, and lots of sand. We are so grateful for each of you and the role you’ve played in shaping who we are today. We can’t wait to celebrate our special day surrounded by the people we love most.