Spencer and Abby met online on Match.com. Abby had just sworn off dating and accepted she was going to be a single dog mom forever when she decided to go on Match for one month. Clearly that is all it took! They talked online for a couple weeks and then Abby was getting impatient (shocking right?) and asked if Spencer was ever going to ask her out. He did and they made plans for the following Saturday, 9/11 to meet. Spencer wanted to take Abby to Torges in Austin, but last minute she asked if he could come to her. They decided on Applebees in Albert Lea. (Yes Abby has deemed the song, “Applebees on a date night” as their official song!). The day arrived and they texted back and forth all day, there were nerves but also excitement. They both ordered burgers and enjoyed their time talking the night away. Abby invited Spencer back to her house to watch a movie. This is when Abby knew there was something so different and special about Spencer and she didn’t want the night to end. Spencer agreed to come over but not before telling his brother Ron who was on duty that night as a deputy (like there was anything to worry about, Abby lives next door to a cop). They watched a movie on 9/11 and talked a lot. At the end of the night, Spencer kissed Abby goodnight that sent butterflies all over it was hard for her to sleep. They made plans for a second date that following Monday at Abby’s house where Spencer grilled pork chops and made potatoes, it was delicious (even though they ate wayyy later than Abby was used to). Spencer asked Abby to be his girlfriend and of course she said yes! From there they started hanging out multiple times per week and couldn’t wait for the next time to see each other. Abby told her parents shortly after that day by saying, “I gotta rip the bandaid off, I’m seeing someone and he’s really special” Abby knew he was the one and fell in love very quickly, but of course waited for Spencer to say “I love you” first! Spencer went back to Wartburg homecoming with Abby in early October and met Abby’s four year roomie and her family-the first friends to meet Spencer. The next weekend the two traveled to Sioux Falls where Spencer went to school to meet his good friend, Nikki. That night on the way home Spencer’s mom texted asking if he was stopping by the farm on the way home. Abby was excited and ready to meet the Wacholz fam, so they thought let’s do it. Abby got super nervous on the gravel leading out to the farm, but all turned out well when the Wacholz family was so welcoming and excited. Abby won their hearts pretty quickly with her quick whit and sarcasm! The next weekend Spencer met all three of Abby’s parents in one day and of course they loved him too! The two were pretty much inseparable at this point. Abby soon started talking about moving in together and planning for their future. Spencer and his kitty, Eliza moved in May 2022. At this point, things were going really well and Abby occasionally (okay more like all the time) was dropping comments right and left about getting engaged.

In June of 2022, Spencer took Abby ring shopping. Little did Abby know, Spencer had already picked out a ring months prior and just needed her size. Abby actually fell in love with the same style that Spencer had already chosen for her. In July Abby survived her first Wacholz family vacation. It was after vacation that Abbys friends and family started asking when the two would be getting engaged. Now those that know Abby know it’s pretty much impossible to surprise her and keep secrets from her. But, Spencer has proven more than capable of that! Their one year anniversary was fast approaching and Abby only dreamed of a proposal that day. The Saturday before Abby’s good friend, Kelly reached out asking if the two would be willing to model fall pictures for her. Abby knew Kelly was wanting to expand her clientele and wanted some nice pictures to print on canvas for the wall. Kelly asked for them to meet on Tuesday September 13, 2022, the couples one year. Kelly offered to do hair and makeup to make the day extra fun. At work that day, Abby went on a lunch break walk with Holly and Kristin and said, “this is just too perfect right? But there’s just no way it’s happening tonight” Holly and Kristin thought otherwise. Abby thought Spence was pretty calm at home waiting for Kelly to pick them up but apparently she was wrong! Abby patted his pants pockets ( not subtlety) and texted Holly and Kristin that it wasn’t happening tonight. Meanwhile Spencer was smart and had dropped the ring off with Kelly that morning because he knew how nosey Abby is. Kelly took them to the state park and the three hiked up to this pretty stand alone tree through grasses that were over three feet tall all while carrying pumpkins for props. The two took some pictures sitting on a blanket and then took a break where Kelly showed Abby some of the pics she had gotten so far. The two then stood to take some standing pictures with the sunset and all the sudden Spencer was down on one knee with the most beautiful ring in his hand asking Abby to marry him. It was magical and truly a dream come true! Of course they had to head to Applebees later that night to celebrate!