The first time Kerry laid eyes on Sophie, he wanted to ask her out. Unfortunately, he had only seen her picture as part of her profile on a dating app (shoutout: Hinge). He sent her a message hoping to spark a flame. Two months later, that flame ignited via several long-winded messages. They met for their first date at Granite City Brewery, talking and laughing for two hours over a pitcher of beer. Kerry joked about being a "Carlson d-bag" and Sophie admitted she doesn't know how to control a thermostat (still true). For their second date, Kerry wanted to impress Sophie with a good dinner and loving ambiance. Naturally, he took her to the fine establishment of Babe's in Lakeville, where a short dinner date ended up lasting four hours. They learned about each other's competitive traits while playing cribbage (editor's note: Sophie won both games, and Kerry didn't lose his mind). Kerry walked Sophie back to her car, wondering how he would initiate the first kiss. Sophie laid it right on him, and both of their lives were never the same.

Kerry and Sophie both had a feeling early on that what they were building together was special. At the end of the summer, they both took time off for a short vacation up north at Kerry's family's cabin. Sophie got her nails done in anticipation. Kerry played it off so well, Sophie asked what the Gopher home schedule was like so she could calculate when the proposal would probably happen in the fall ("I'm just a girl" -Sophie). Little did she know, Kerry had planned the proposal after visiting Apple Valley Diamonds the previous month. Kerry loaded the pontoon with a small and important package hiding at the bottom of the boat bag, and August delivered with a beautiful late summer day. Kerry waited until he found a nice secluded bay at the right time (i.e. just before sunset and after Sophie stopped playing 2000s club music) to ask Sophie the most important question he'd ever ask. Sophie said "Yes,” Nelli was confused why her parents were crying, and they celebrated the rest of the night as an engaged couple over pizza.