You Make My Dreams Come True...

In September of 2013, a few weeks into our Sophomore year of college, we were set up on a blind date for Sander's fraternity's biggest party of the year — Fiji Isle. The party was luau-themed, and we dressed up in swimsuits, sarongs, and paint (lots of paint). We drank too much spiked punch and had a great time dancing to a band playing Black Eyed Peas covers. I thought Sander was goofy, and he thought I was quiet. I'd like to say we were inseparable ever since, but it took some months of getting to know each other and long nights up talking to really realize our values, goals, hopes, and dreams for the future aligned. We made it "Facebook Official" in January 2014, and we've been doing life together ever since.

After an 11-month stint in Chicago and two years living together in Austin, Sander hatched a plan for us to go to IU for the Michigan State vs. IU game on March 2, 2019. He filled me in, and I was all, “Uh, sure.” I warmed up to the idea when I heard our best friends, Anna and Ryan, would be joining us. On Friday, March 1, we boarded our flight to our alma mater. Once we arrived, we checked in to the cutest hotel filled with kitschy Indiana-themed items. I curled my hair and put on makeup as Sander ironed his pants — very peculiar move, given we would be heading to Kilroy’s for the remainder of the night, and Roy’s is no place for an ironed pants-clad man. We headed to dinner at one of our favorite spots, Quaff On, and I ordered our go-to dishes: Pulled Pork Nachos & Wings. Afterwards, I decided to test the waters on my nugget of proposal suspicion as we were about to leave. I told Sander I should probably wash my hands, showing him my cuticles caked with wing sauce. He took a look, shrugged and said, “If you want to”. At this point, I knew I was going to have to accept my fate of "girlfriend" forever. Sander then insisted we take the scenic route on our way to join Anna and Ryan at Anna’s cousin’s house to drink Peach Taaka Vodka out of soggy paper cups and sip on Hamm’s beer to pregame. We walked by the home I lived in summer ‘14 when we stayed in Bloomington to “take classes” and “get ahead in school." It was the place Sander first told me he loved me. After, we walked by the new Fiji house and talked about all of the memories we had throughout college. Our stroll took a turn towards the center of campus, and when we turned the corner, I saw the Rose Well House — an iconic limestone gazebo—adorned with pink rose petals and candles. This really twisted the knife, as I was completely positive it was not for me. To my surprise, Sander started into his “speech” and asked me to be his wife. To which I responded, “Thank you so much! Yes!”

I grew up in Evansville, IN, and Sander grew up in Eden Prairie, MN. When Sander graduated from Eden Prairie High School and went off to college, his family moved to Austin, TX to follow the sunshine and breakfast tacos — well, mostly the sunshine, but the breakfast tacos were an added bonus. From then on, Austin became the "home" he'd travel to every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and summer, and is the place we now live. My upbringing in Evansville was nothing short of a midwestern fairytale, and although Evansville has a special place in my heart, I couldn't quite picture my perfect day on the country club lawn that brought nostalgia to me, but had no sentimental value to Sander or us as a couple. My family has been traveling down to 30A since I was young, and we all fell in love with Rosemary Beach. The white sand, cobblestone streets, euro-style architecture, live oak trees, and sunsets had our hearts. And at only an eight-and-a-half-hour drive from Evansville (if you make sure to bring your fuzz buster), it was the perfect getaway. My parents purchased a home there in 2014, right as Sander and I started dating. From then on, Rosemary Beach was the place we would go when we needed a getaway. It was the place where we could find solace and simplicity. I can't tell you the number of times we've talked of opening a small business there and converting from corporate Americans to tan-skinned beach bums. Thus, when we got engaged, the conversation of "where" was a no brainer. Sander still loves Minnesota, and I, my Evansville roots, but Rosemary Beach was the place. It's nestled between Destin and Panama City, but don't let these cities' reputations of airbrush T-shirts and hermit crabs deter you. Rosemary Beach is dreamy and quaint, and it is our favorite place on earth. We cannot wait to say "I do" in the town that means so much to us, and we're so excited to share this enchanting place with you. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.