We’re Getting Married!

The year was 2001 and they were classmates in Mrs. Borken’s 4th grade class at Deerwood Elementary. Jenni was immediately smitten with Nick – so much so that she put a heart around his yearbook photo. They continued on as classmates for the rest of their school age years, and at one point in Freshman year of high school, the two shared a very short “dating relationship.” After she got a text from him saying “LY” – meaning, “love you” – after only a week, Jenni freaked out and broke up with Nick over Myspace. Apparently Nick was completely heartbroken and Jenni had no idea. Ugh… teenagers, right? Anyways, they remained friends through the rest of high school and into college. Nick went to Duluth, and Jenni to Mankato. They had kept in touch some here and there, but actually reconnected in 2014 after Jenni had moved back home to Eagan and while Nick was visiting from school. Unfortunately, the fling only lasted a short while because Nick went back up to Duluth, and distance proved to be too much of a challenge. However, 3 years later, after both had experienced a good bit of life on their own, God brought them back together again, for the final time. The connection was instant and fierce. Nick fell hard for Jenni, and Jenni fell deeply for him and his daughter, Elaina. She moved in with them after 3 months of dating, and the three of them became a extremely close. They became a family. Nick and Jenni knew after a short while that together is how they wanted to spend the rest of days.

August 12, 2019. Nick and Jenni were visiting Lake Tahoe with Nick’s parents, aunt and uncle. Nick wanted to treat Jenni to a nice dinner just the two of them. He booked reservations at Edgewood Tahoe, a beautiful restaurant on a lakeside golf course. They were lucky enough to get the table next to the big picture window that looked out onto the lake so they could watch the sunset while they enjoyed dinner and each other. Now, Jenni should have suspected something was up because this was FANCY and felt extra special. But she was oblivious, and taken completely by surprise as he got up out of his chair to come kneel before her and pop the question with a ring box in hand. She was in shock and didn’t really register what was happening until the restaurant erupted in cheers and applause. A couple nearby went to congratulate them and offer to take some pictures for them – they had them almost reenact the moment so they could capture the proposal, which then spurred the recognition of what actually just happened, and tears of absolute happiness began to flow. It was incredibly special and a moment they will never forgot. And it made for the best vacation either of them had ever been on!

We wait (im)patiently for our big day – the day we say I do and become Nick and Jenni Eslinger. God never gave up on us and had a plan all along. He knew we were meant for each other and he knew exactly what we needed to go through to prepare us and when we were ready to be together. We are so excited to embark on our next journey as Husband and Wife, and we are so thrilled for you to be part of it. See you on 10.10.20!