One mild evening in November 2017, new-girl-in-town Hannah stepped into the buzzing atmosphere of a local bar for a happy hour networking event in Charlotte, NC. Eager to make some new connections and expand her circle in her new city, Hannah had high hopes for the evening’s interactions.

There was a man in the crowd who caught her eye halfway through the night, but her internal dialogue immediately got to work casting doubt on her chances: "Okay, he’s good looking. But I'm sure he is married or has a girlfriend." Turns out, she was wrong about this. In fact, Hannah was already on this man’s radar. Lucas had heard about the lovely Hannah from a coworker of his, and was looking forward to making her acquaintance just as much as she was his.

As soon as Lucas and Hannah were introduced, the spark was ignited. Fellow engineers and avid sports enthusiasts, the two of them had no shortage of things to talk about and bond over. The next three weeks passed in a blur, with Hannah and Lucas sharing several dates and only finding more to love about each other by the day. Hannah went home for Thanksgiving that year. Over excited conversations and sharing of photos from her recent adventures with Lucas, Hannah mused, "I think I'm going to marry this guy." That January, Lucas took her home to Johnson City to meet his family. Hannah recalls feeling a strong sense of belonging, and was immediately treated as part of the clan. Both families became tightly knit over the next three years, as Hannah and Lucas’ bond deepened. Lucas proposed on February 11th of 2021 in Marathon Key, FL – Hannah’s happy place.

Given Hannah's childhood spent in Bellaire, MI, and Lucas' newly acquired affinity for the region that Hannah had shared with him, the two decided that Northern Michigan would be the ideal place to begin their married lives together. Of all the venues they toured, it was the sweeping views of Grand Traverse Bay atop the hill at Gallagher Farms that captured their hearts. "It embodies everything we love about Northern Michigan," Hannah says. "We knew our friends and family would be just as in awe as we were." I think the word "awe" describes this magnificent day perfectly.