Alex was the first guy I met at Hope College at pre-orientation. There was a spark immediately and it turned out we shared a class every day our first year of college. He asked me out to lunch after months of me (Nadia) fighting it and I later found out he ditched his whole friend group to have lunch with me… at the dining hall! His best friend pushed him every day to chase after what he saw was true love.

Well, it is hard to beat strolling through the valley of waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. After 7 years of dating and growing together through life, we walked up to the edge of the little town by a florist's farm when he got down on one knee and said, “this view is beautiful but never as beautiful as you and our love for each other…Marry me?!” After taking in the moment, we walked down to the town’s church to meet the rest of his family and right then, the bells chimed! I bawled!

Alex and I have dreamed of having our wedding on his families property. Having it at home saves money, but our dreams would come true with $20,000. The money would help pay for our wedding while student loans weigh us both down. The dream of our own house for this little family we want to build is dwindling with the shadow of student debt that is suppose to help us get to new heights.