Carter and Megan met their freshmen year at Iowa State University. Megan was introduced to Carter by a mutual friend (Grace) at an ADPi formal, where Grace brought Carter as her date! Megan and Carter were in the same 8 AM Calc 3 class second semester freshman year. Carter would wait for Megan to exit class together every morning so they could walk with each other to their next class. Since Megan loves candy, she decided to give Carter "smarties" candy one morning to wish him luck and "smarts" on his physics test that day. This became a normal occurrence of treats or notes that they shared. After flirting for a couple weeks, Megan finally moved her seat in Calc class to sit next to Carter. This was very awkward since it was a class of 20 students, so it was obvious that they liked each other. Their first official date was in the middle of winter in Ames. Jon, one of Carter's fraternity friends, chauffeured Carter to pick up Megan at her dorm in Martin. Jon dropped off Carter and Megan to Stomping Grounds, a café near campus. They shared mochas at 8 PM and stories, to learn about each other until closing time at the café. When Carter found out Megan had never seen Footloose, he insisted they watch it together. Soon after, Carter taught Megan to swing dance... and the rest is history!

During the Fourth of July weekend, Carter and Megan planned to stay at the Rau's lake house in Ashland, NE, to celebrate the holiday with the family. On the drive from Kansas City to Ashland, Carter insisted to drive and drove the speed limit the entire time (with many passing cars). For a typical weekend with the Raus, there was boating, singing to country songs, and wine, so Megan was excited for a relaxing long weekend at the lake, not expecting anything different. Once they arrived at the house, there was a plan to go to Glacial Till winery to kick-off the weekend. Everyone enjoyed refreshments on the rooftop of the winery. Carter's sister Sydney left to go to "her friend's birthday party in Lincoln"; meanwhile Mr. Rau had a fun idea planned...to visit a local dive bar, the Eastside Saloon. At 10 PM, Carter, Megan, Mr. and Mrs. Rau entered the saloon for a nightcap. After reflecting on a busy day without a meal, Megan decided to order a cheeseburger at the bar...figuring that if anything important happened that day, it would have happened earlier. When they arrived back at the house, Mr. Rau asked Carter and Megan to go around back to open up the garage door, since the clicker was "broken". Carter walked Megan around to the back of the house by the lake, to an array of luminaries and a lit campfire. Completely amazed and surprised, Megan thought "This is the moment". Carter walked Megan over to the fire, uttered heartful words, got down on one knee and proposed. Out of nowhere, a gang of people started cheering and approaching from the dimly lit house. Megan's family was there!! Lauren, Sarah, Sue and Steve came out cheering and crying, along with Sydney, Jason, and Wendy. Steve opened up French champagne and the families celebrated all night on the lake until 2 AM! The Peters stayed for more 4th of July festivities that weekend before heading home. It was a night to remember!! Megan & Carter are so grateful for their loving families.