How We Met
Our story began during our brief time at DePaul University. Although we each attended for only one year, fate had other plans. We met while attending a virtual meeting of the College Republicans, and what started as a simple introduction soon blossomed into a relationship that would change both of our lives.
Falling in Love
One of our earliest and most memorable dates was spent lying beneath the stars, talking for hours and enjoying each other's company. That evening became a special part of our story and started a star-themed tradition that has followed us throughout our relationship. From a necklace engraved with the exact night sky from that date to a star projector lighting our home, the stars have always reminded us of where our story began.
Much of our relationship was spent long distance, with Natalie attending college in Knoxville, Tennessee, while Justin remained in Iowa. Although the miles between us were difficult, they taught us patience, commitment, and just how much we valued our time together.
Along the way, we shared countless adventures, including a memorable trip to Disney World in 2022. After years of visits, phone calls, and counting down the days until we could be together, we finally moved into our first apartment in the winter of 2025. For the first time, distance was no longer part of our story—and we both knew our next chapter was just around the corner.
The Proposal
After years of growing together through long-distance phone calls, adventures, and countless memories, Justin knew it was time to ask the most important question of all. During a winter trip to Hawaii, on our final morning in Maui, we took a quiet walk along the beach at sunrise outside our oceanfront resort. As the sun rose over the Pacific and illuminated the shoreline, Justin got down on one knee and presented Natalie with a white gold criss-cross band featuring a brilliant diamond surrounded by smaller stones. Against the backdrop of the waves and one of the most beautiful sunrises we had ever seen, he asked Natalie to spend the rest of her life with him—and she said yes.
