Gretchen and Mark played in the Pacific Lutheran University Wind Ensemble together during Mark's second year and Gretchen's first year (2016-2017). They became very close friends the following year when Mark started running the PLU pep band and he recruited Gretchen to play the bass drum! After a couple years of friendship and a whole year of studying abroad for Gretchen, they finally started dating in the spring of 2019.

Mark took Gretchen hiking at Snoquera Falls in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Mark graciously slowed down his regular quick pace so that Gretchen could keep up, and Gretchen introduced Mark to one of her favorite bands, Vampire Weekend, on the hour long drives to and from the trailhead. They grabbed lunch at Giorgio's Greek Cafe in downtown Puyallup (just down the street from the Puyallup reception venue!). Mark's strongest memory from their first date is having to run back down the first quarter mile of the trail to put the park pass up in his car. Gretchen's strongest memory is not being able to stop smiling after their first kiss!

Mark, armed with an engagement ring featuring a center diamond from Gretchen's great-great Aunt Eula's wedding ring, recruited his and Gretchen's friend Michelle to help plan the proposal. All of their plans to do the proposal on a hike at Mount Rainier flew out the window when Gretchen's housemates from her senior year of PLU (who she quarantined with during the early months of the pandemic) just happened to plan to all be in Washington on the same weekend. The whole crew (or Whole Shebang, as they refer themselves) drove up to Michelle's house in North Bend, Washington to spend time together. They walked down a short river access trail to explore the Snoqualmie River. Mark and Gretchen had visited this spot early on in their relationship and had taken a picture on top of a very large boulder in the middle of the river. Cluelessly and conveniently, Gretchen suggested recreating their picture atop the boulder. After a couple of shots were taken, Mark carefully got down on one knee and proposed, much to the surprise of everyone else besides Michelle and her boyfriend Nate, who later provided beautiful pictures of the moment (see photo at the bottom of this page!). Gretchen obviously said yes and she and Mark spent the rest of the day celebrating with the Whole Shebang and notifying their friends and family!

Gretchen and Mark will be celebrating their marriage both in Gretchen's hometown in Minnesota, and in Mark's hometown and their current place of residence in Puyallup, Washington! You are welcome to attend one or both, whatever works best for you. If you have any questions, please check the FAQs page or email your questions to gretchenandmark2022@gmail.com!