Erin ('15) and Brett ('14) attended Carthage College in Kenosha, WI where they caught one another's eye in between golf and football practices. Erin's college friend, roommate, & teammate was an athletic trainer, often working on the football field where she and Brett became close friends, too. Brett would occasionally ask about Erin, and Erin about Brett, but the pair never actually spoke to one another while both were at Carthage. Finally, after Brett graduated and moved to Milwaukee, the two enjoyed their first date at The Boat House in Kenosha during the summer of 2014. For a couple of years on and off, Brett and Erin shared several more dates and eventually gave it the 'ol college try' in 2016 until Brett moved back to his Michigan roots in 2017 and the two called it quits. A couple weeks later, Erin adopted her dog, Milo, in an effort to help heal her broken heart. During the fall of 2018, the two briefly reconnected again at their mutual friend's wedding, but ultimately stayed on separate paths - Brett in Detroit and Erin in Chicagoland. In all those years, a whole lotta life happened for both Erin and Brett, but neither could quite forget about the other. As fate would have it, the two randomly (?) began talking again in the summer of 2021, picking up right where they left off. During the fall of 2021, Brett made the first of many road trips between Detroit and Chicago as the two rekindled their long-distance romance. For 2 years, they traded off visits for short weekends or weeks at a time, until Brett loaded up a 26' U-Haul to help move Erin to Michigan in June 2023. The two bought their first house in Rochester Hills, where they live together with THEIR dog, Milo. Suffice it to say - what's meant to be will be, and love will always find a way.

Brett and Erin booked a fall weekend getaway for Erin's first time 'up north'. The two traveled through Traverse City, Leland, Sutton's Bay, Charlevoix and Petoskey before heading north to Mackinac Island where Brett had 'grand' plans. But, with Erin being a Type-A planner of the duo, he also knew he had to be careful not to give anything away. Erin (the planner) booked a room at The Grand - for the experience - and the two spent the day exploring the island. They strolled through main street, visited the Fort, and biked the 8.2 miles around the island's perimeter before checking in to enjoy a special evening. Little did Erin know.... To dine and/or enjoy The Grand's main accommodations beyond 6:30pm, all guests must be dressed in formal attire, so the pair changed into nicer clothes for the evening. Brett was much quicker about this, and was nervously pacing in the room while Erin finished getting ready in the bathroom. Finally, the two ventured out to explore The Grand, stopping first on the infamous porch to grab a few pictures, and enjoy the view - at sunset. Brett asked a random observer to "snag a few photographs" as we posed on the porch. And there, in the romantic light of day, in the most scenic setting, Brett popped the big question. Spoiler: she said YES!