On November 16, 2018, Dylan (a mutual friend of Rachel and Tommy) was having a birthday party for Tanner (another mutual friend). Rachel and Tommy both went to Dylan’s house that night and that’s where they met. Throughout the week, Tommy asked a few of these friends for Rachel’s Snapchat and CJ finally gave it to him. They started snap chatting and eventually Tommy asked Rachel out on a date. On December 9th, they went to ‘Round the Clock, since they were broke college students, and then spent the rest of the day together. After that, they started hanging out multiple times a week and met each other’s families. On December 28, they started calling each other “boyfriend” and “girlfriend” and then spent NYE together at a concert in Wisconsin.

Fast forward almost exactly 4 years from their first date, they went to Lighthouse for an anniversary dinner. Rachel had a feeling that Tommy could be popping the question, but their families were acting so normal throughout the day and “forgetting” that they were even going on a date. This made Rachel less suspicious but she was really hoping that it was all an act. The gazebo outside the restaurant was set up with Christmas decorations and heat lamps and it looked beautiful. Tommy asked if Rachel wanted to walk over by it and get a picture before going inside. Normally, with it being winter, she would have said no, because she hates being cold, but she figured this could be part of his plan and she didn’t want to ruin it. They walked over and Tommy was a little nervous and didn’t know what to do. Rachel suggested he ask an employee from inside to take a picture of us but then a group of people leaving the restaurant walked outside at the perfect time. We asked them to take a picture and Rachel could feel Tommy’s heart pounding. He started pacing back and forth after the picture not knowing what he wanted to do next. Then he came back over to where Rachel was standing and got down on one knee and asked her to marry him! Out from behind a bush came Lauren and Tyler who were hiding and waiting to capture the whole thing. They had gotten there early to make sure the heat lamps were on so it would be less cold and to get in their hiding spot. Now here we are, a whole year and a half later, getting married! We are so excited for this next chapter of life!