After two weeks of online banter, we finally decided to brave the real world for a brunch date. We clicked so well that 'just brunch' spontaneously turned into a walking tour of the Capitol building, where Nikki played tour guide to show Justin the dome and the best views of Madison. The adventure didn't stop there, though. Fueled by an epic Disney sing-along in the car, we headed straight to the Madison Zoo! Fun fact: Nikki made a beeline for her favorite tall, majestic giraffes, while Justin was entirely distracted by the playful otters!

Justin's proposal was inspired by a conversation about Nikki's idea of a perfect day, which included sleeping in, visiting a farmers market, and going to a pumpkin patch. After returning from a work trip to Georgia, Justin planned a proposal around those activities. On a beautiful fall day, we visited the last farmers market of the season in Appleton, Wisconsin, where we enjoyed coffee, cannolis, cheese, flowers, and live music. We then traveled to a pumpkin patch in Fond du Lac, enjoying caramel apples, apple cider, kettle corn, and a walk through a corn maze before selecting pumpkins to take home. Back at home, we held our annual pumpkin-carving competition, with a Harry Potter theme. While Nikki worked on her design, Justin secretly carved a special pumpkin and hid it under a blanket. After a dinner of spaghetti, garlic bread, and wine, we revealed our creations. Nikki unveiled a pumpkin featuring the quote, “We solemnly swear we are up to no good.” When she uncovered Justin's pumpkin, she found the words, “Will you marry me?” carved into it. Justin then got down on one knee and proposed, and Nikki said YES. The proposal made October especially meaningful for us, which is why we chose it as our wedding month and why we'll continue to cherish fall traditions like farmers markets and pumpkin carving together.