We started dating in the summer just before school began, when everything still felt a little unstructured and free. From coffee shops to gardens, drive-in movies to camping under meteor showers, we quickly grew fond of each other’s company. A few weeks into the semester, we both went to a Mid-Autumn Festival event. At some point during the night, without planning it, we each found a sticker that said, “I love you to the mooncake and back.” By the end of the evening, we exchanged them — half playful, half something more — The rest, as they say, is history.

After three years of dating and countless sleepovers, we started to wonder what it might be like to have a place of our own. Cleveland had been our home for a long time — with all our favorite places and familiar corners — the pull to find something new never really left us. We’d always loved exploring, after all. So when the opportunity came to move to our own little haven in Grand Rapids, the decision felt easy — like the next page turning on its own. Soon enough, we were holding the keys to a little blue house in a quiet little city, ready (and a bit giddy) to begin this next chapter of building a life together.

We got engaged in Acadia National Park, Maine, a place I had always dreamed of visiting to see the fall colors in all their glory. It was a long road trip filled with endless hours of conversation, laughter, and music — time that felt both effortless and special. Every mile brought us closer to our destination and to each other. We stayed in the cutest little spot in Bar Harbor, where the charm of the town and the crisp autumn air made everything feel magical. But the highlight of our trip was the morning we got engaged. By a serene, glistening lake surrounded by vibrant fall foliage, everything seemed to pause for a moment. The sun was just peaking through the trees, painting the water in soft golds and oranges, and in that perfect quiet, Ben got onto one knee and asked a question that would be the beginning of a lifetime. Obviously, the answer was yes. It was the happiest moment of our lives (so far!) — the colors, the lake, the air, and the joy we shared. Looking back, it wasn’t just the engagement itself but the whole journey — the road trip, the conversations, the laughter, the lobsters — that made it unforgettable.

In a swirl of excitement and imagination, we've finally landed on a venue and date! We’re returning to the place where our stories first intertwined, where so many chapters of our lives — both apart and together — were written. The magic began in a cozy corner of Northeast Ohio, and it feels only right to celebrate our biggest chapter here too. The ceremony will be held at a charming little castle, straight out of a storybook. We can’t wait to share this intimate, enchanted day with our beloved family.