It really is a small world...

Technically, our story starts in 2010, when we both attended an Elk Rapids High School graduation ceremony at New Hope Community Church in Williamsburg. Rachel for her cousin Patrick and Michael for his brother Nick. As fate would have it, it was not our time to meet, but this is where we first crossed paths.

From that point, we went on to live different lives, but we both eventually landed in Ann Arbor. We met first on Hinge, but in his excitement, Michael swiped the wrong direction while showing his mom, Holly, and his sister, Ash. And with Hinge, that means that the only way to match again is to run out of local options and have it cycle back, which could take a while.

Thankfully, we were both on Bumble, and we matched again. We had some great chats and eventually set up a date at Jolly Pumpkin in downtown Ann Arbor. Fate decided it was finally time for us to meet! Rachel was, surprisingly, a bit late for the date. She hopes that one day, he might forget that little detail.

Upon seeing each other, Michael knew this was what he was waiting for, and Rachel knew she'd found someone special. After we talked, it was apparent we were a great fit. We both spoke with our hands and used them as visual aids. We had similar senses of humor and professional drive. We had extended family histories in Northern Michigan. We did not have the same tastes in food (Rachel is a vegetarian; Michael forgives her for that). We each had an excellent dog that needed a homie. We stayed at Jolly Pumpkin until they closed, soaking it all in.

Rachel, who was going on vacation a few days later, decided she needed to spend more time with Michael before leaving. Just a few short days after their first date, she asked him to hang out with her for a second date.

From there, we started hanging out a couple of times a week. Cooking, watching movies, going out. We knew this was it, so after a couple months, Michael introduced Rachel to his mom, Holly, dad, Scott, brother, Nick, sister, Ash, and their partners. Michael met Rachel's mom, Wendy, dad, Ron, and brother, Drew.

After three months of dating and having met Rachel's family once, Michael was brave and drove to Florida with her and their dogs Riley and Hazel, and spent two weeks with her parents and their fur babies Paisley and Molly. In another few months, we'd visit Rachel's cousin Joey and his husband Kyle in LA and Michael's family in Colorado. We'd take trips to Northern Michigan for holidays and family gatherings. We couldn't spend enough time together, and everyone got along well. The dogs had become BFFs.

A year after making things official, we visited a fancy Japanese restaurant downtown for an anniversary dinner. We had a private room and fantastic service, and Rachel looked terrific (as did Michael). There was some 'strange lady' with a large bag hanging out near the bathrooms behind us, but otherwise, the meal was fantastic. After dinner, the peculiar lady appeared with a camera, and Michael knelt to ask Rachel to marry him. She said yes, thankfully, and the staff brought in champagne.

The photographer set up lights near the front of the restaurant, and we took some engagement photos. We walked around downtown for even more pics. We got a few good ones right out front of Jolly Pumpkin (who, by the way, never returned calls or emails for engagement scheduling). We were engaged and both so excited!

Now, several months later, we're here! We're getting married, and we can't wait to celebrate with anyone who can make it. We're so grateful to have found each other and to have such wonderful friends and family!!