Welcome to our story

Our story began back in 2019 when Madelyn applied at the Drive In Restaurant (for the second time… 😉) where Eric was managing. She succeeded in getting an interview this time around, which is where they ultimately met. This marked the start of their professional relationship. Fast-forward a couple years, after building profound respect for each other within the workplace, the time came for them to get to know each other on a friendship level. Having navigated 2020 and all that it threw their way, 2021 was the start of something neither of them would have imagined (except maybe Madelyn…😉). If they had to throw a time frame on when their relationship grew from friendly colleagues to close friends, it would be in April of 2021. Beginning with the exchange of cute animal photos (Azula being her feisty kitty 🐱 and Milo being his mischievous pup🐺) - what better conversation starter? From there they continued to get to know each other on a deeper level before finally going on their first date on July 6th that same year at Eric's favorite restaurant LoLo's in Stillwater. There were many moments that led to the start of our romantic relationship, but the tipping point could be marked by one fateful night at the Drive In🍔🍟. It was a clear summer night and both were closing down the restaurant together. Eric had this brilliant idea🧠of going on the roof of the Drive In (a spot Alex had made well known to Eric and his friend group many moons ago) because obviously Eric wanted to impress Madelyn (he would have fooled her too with the way he climbed right up there despite his fear of heights 😂). Sitting up there, just the two of them aside from the stary night sky✨, those two chatted for over an hour about life, sharing stories. They got up to leave and part ways before realizing there was still so much to talk about, so they decided a nice nighttime stroll was in order. Their walk led them to the softly lit spot beneath the bridge leading from Taylors Falls to Saint Croix Falls. There they basked in the glory of the river and the peace the night ski brought, which is where they shared their kiss. 🏞 From there the relationship blossomed into something so magical and cherished that they knew they mustn't let go.💖

Leading up to the proposal, Eric knew he wanted to ask Madelyn to marry him in February of 2023📆. Having made this decision, he bought the ring💍and immediately went over to ask permission from Madelyn's dad, Kurt. From there, Eric planned a day full of wonderful surprises with many of their dear family and friends. To kick off this fateful day, Eric asked his sister-in-law Lacy to request a photoshoot 📷 with him and Madelyn, where unbeknownst to her he would “pop the question”💥. Eric and Lacy were able to convince Madelyn that they were doing a simple couples photoshoot to “boost Lacy’s portfolio”. Little did she know that this would be a monumental day in her life that she would never forget. When April 16th finally arrived (after two long months of waiting on Eric’s part, bless his heart), mother nature was determined to make that April day even more memorable by making it 30 degrees and snowing ❄️. Remember that Madelyn still had no idea what was going to happen at this point - she didn't even question why we were still doing a photoshoot in such unpleasant weather😂. Despite this hurtle, the plan was still in motion. They arrived at Pioneer Park in Stillwater and got right to work. After posing for a handful pictures (not either of their favorite things to do, candid photography being their go to), they were freezing their buns off to say the least🥶! About 10-15 minutes into the shoot, both were facing the camera, hand in hand with the river behind them. That was when Eric made the move to get down on one knee. Both shaking from the shock, excitement, and the cold – neither could have dreamed for a more magnificent moment💖. To top it off, the moment was captured in photo so perfectly. Shock would be an understatement for what Madelyn was experiencing – what a surprise!💕And the day wasn’t over yet; Eric coordinated such a thoughtful gathering of family from hers and his side, all of whom were waiting down at the Freight House in a private area for a lunch to share the excitement. Madelyn couldn’t have planned it better herself 😊. Amidst the beautiful chaos, Eric and Madelyn were able to sneak away for a while to The Velveteen to celebrate just the two of them🥂. It wasn’t long before Eric revealed that there was one last part of this extraordinary day – so down to the Lumberjack they went. There they were greeted by a continuous stream of some of their closest friends. They threw axes 🪓, enjoyed cold brews🍺, and relished the time with such amazing company. They topped off the night by having a lovely dinner at one of their favorite spots, Lolito’s 🌮. There they continued to share the magical day with their friends before heading to their home in Saint Croix Falls, where their wedding will be held💒. And the rest, as they say, is history.