Her side of the story. | Katelin

Steven and I met in Fabrication Fundamentals class in college. As you can imagine, I had zero clue what I was doing and Steven helped me build my year-end project which was a cow made from sheet metal (a gift for my mom's garden). But, when he asked for my phone number the first time on Facebook Messenger, my response was “1-800-No.” As embarrassing as that is, it's a true story. Luckily for me, Steven has never shied away from a challenge. We stayed close friends throughout college, but we didn't start dating until four years after we first met. Listen, you gotta cut me some slack. We met in the prime of my young, dumb and selfish 20-something years.

But, you know that quote, “It was always you.” Yup, that pretty much sums it up. It was always Steven. After going our separate ways after college, dating other people and chasing our career dreams, we actually sadly enough ended up reconnecting at the funeral of our favorite college professor.

On our first date, Steven wore a terrible plaid shirt, cuff links (yes, seriously), stone wash jeans and basketball shoes and I got sick from the food and made him pull over so I could throw up on the way home. That may sound terrible, but it’s actually the perfect story to describe our relationship. It doesn’t matter what life throws at us, with Steven, it’s simple and it’s easy.

He’s a calming presence to everyone around him. He’s one of the hardest working people I have ever met and that includes working at our relationship. His love is unconditional and unwavering even when I’m unrealistic and unlovable. He makes life’s simplest moments like going to the grocery store fun. He writes me love notes in my lunchbox, knows not to come out of the gas station without a snack for me and got three years worth of allergy shots so he could love my cat Boberry better. He spoils me when I least deserve it, has the patience of a Saint and acts as my flat line when I’m completely off the charts. I’ll never understand how or why he does it, but I adore him for it.

It has always been you and it will always be you. I love you, Steven.

-Katelin

His side of the story. | Steven

I remember sitting in class at college and a good friend of mine was telling me about this girl he met in one of his other classes. He was going on and on about how she was blonde, good looking and raced go-karts. I immediately wanted to meet this girl. Well, the time came when I finally had fabrication class with the mystery girl. I quickly found out that she was everything he had described and so much more. She was from a small town just like me, she was close with her family and super down to earth...and you guessed it, her name was Katelin. She would hang out together with our group of friends and come over to my house to ride four-wheelers on the weekend. I had never met someone who enjoyed doing all the things I enjoy doing so much. Sounds like it was happily ever after, right? Not so fast. Katelin put up a good fight for four years until she finally fell for my undeniable charm. Ha! In all seriousness, I never gave up because I knew in my heart that if it wasn't her, there wasn't one for me. She rolls her eyes when I say that, but it’s true.

Fast forward to now and we are still best friends, spending every minute we can together. She keeps me grounded every time her eyes light up at life’s simplest things like a fountain Coke from McDonald’s and when she sees cows in a field. Katelin is one of the most independent and smartest girls I’ve ever met. She pushes me to chase my dreams while chasing her own just as hard. From her helping me completely remodel, design and decorate my house to me fixing and building things for her antique business, I love having her on my team. She’s my best half. I wouldn’t and couldn’t imagine spending life with anyone but her by my side. I love you Katelin and can’t wait to cry when I see you walk down the aisle on our wedding day. You mean the world to me.
-Steven

VENDOR CREDITS:

Venue : Nazareth Hall

Florist : Kroger

DJ : Class Act by Bob Norris

Makeup/Hair : Wildflower Salon & Spa