Connect How did your love story begin?

We met on Valentine’s Day for a spontaneous date, and instantly clicked. Distance tried to pull us apart when I moved to a summer job 700 miles away, but our hearts wouldn’t let go. Just before I left, I told him I didn’t want to wait for when I got back - I wanted to try long distance and be together. So we did. Through flights, phone calls, and falling harder for each other every day, our love won. Now we’re in both in the same city, crazy in love, and living out our happily ever after.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

Our first vacation. It was October and Clayton had just sprained his ankle, ruining our hiking plans in Pictured Rocks, but we went anyway. With his foot propped up and iced on the dashboard, we explored the Upper Peninsula of Michigan by car. We ate way too many breakfast pasties, made World Series bets, and played pool with locals in a dive bar to live music. Despite the fall weather and our massively changed plans, we laughed nonstop and had the best time just being together.

What would you do with $20,000?

We would use this to pay off student loans, easing our financial burden as we begin our life together. It would also help fund our wedding, allowing us to celebrate an incredible milestone with all of our loved ones. But most importantly, it would lay a strong foundation for our future—enabling us to start building a secure, loving home where we can one day raise a big, beautiful family.