Abby: Mark and I matched on a dating app called bumble. We got to know each other very quickly since Mark was working from home and Abby just started a new job in Galesburg. Mark was duck hunting one of the first days and I remember thinking I'm glad this guy likes to be outdoors like my family. - that notoriously was one of the first and last times he has done that since.

Mark: Abby and I matched on Bumble which was nice because Bumble requires the gal to message the guy first. As you can see above, Abby had a great first line! I could tell instantly from our first conversations that she was special and someone I really wanted to get to know and meet.

Mark: Our first date was not a night out at a fancy restaurant, but an opportunity for Abby to get a good look into my life. I picked up tacos from BR's, met her at the McDonald's parking lot, then we got beers from the Roadhouse drive-thru and sat in the parking lot and ate. I realized that getting onions on my tacos was not the best idea. I also flossed my teeth in front of her after eating. But she was still down to drive to Maquon! She was hesitant when I showed her the pump house at the water tower, but the entire night she showed an interest in what I was talking about and as we drove back to her car I knew I wanted to see her again as soon as I could... Our second date was the next day!

Abby: Our first date we met after I got off work at the McDonalds parking lot in Knoxville and picked up to go tacos from BR's Place and a drive through beer from a bar (COVID). We ate them in the parking lot then Mark asked if I wanted to see Maquon. We went, ran into a few people and then he showed me how to check the water. He also had to mark a JULIE but it had snowed. I remember seeing this guy spray paint snow and think... hmmm. Little did I know that would be the beginning of my time as the unofficial first lady of Maquon. I love how much pride he has for Maquon and how many hours he works to make Maquon a better place for his favorite people.

Abby: I told myself that year I wasn't dating to marry, I was going to focus on myself and growing who I was so when I met Mark, I quickly said I can't date someone until 2022, but if you are still interested then, let's go on a date. When I moved into my house in Galesburg, Mark reached out to see if I needed any help with anything. I said no, the only thing I had left to do was bring in my garbage. He quickly said oh I can do that and was pulling into the driveway before I knew it.

Mark: After a couple months of talking every day and going out, Abby said she wanted to pause and focus on herself. I was very bummed, but held out hope as she said I could ask her out in January of 2022. We stayed in touch and I got to see her a couple more times that year, and finally in December when she was moved in to her house in Galesburg, our story got a new beginning. I did volunteer to take her trash out, and I have been doing it ever since.

Abby: Yes, yes it is all my fault we broke up. I knew Mark was more than just another date. He was certain, meaningful, kind, intentional, extremely loving and I just wasn't in the right place for that yet. It only lasted a week.

Mark: The day after meeting Abby's mom and step-dad, Abby said she was going to need another pause. I was devastated and felt emotions I never had before. Before this, we enjoyed playing Rummikub and Scrabble together. During this pause, we maintained our snap streak despite not talking much, but I had downloaded the Rummikub app and challenged her to a game to keep our spark alive. After a week or so, we got back together and the rest is history!

Abby: Dating Mark feels like being loved completely. He loves me at my worst, and my best. We have been through so many hours of deep talks to and from events and traveling, and after (almost) all of them, we come out with a better understanding of our thoughts and feelings. We have meshed friend groups in the hours spent in Fulton County/Marshall County, visiting Chicago, golfing, and countless other activities.

Mark: Abby and I, like every couple, had our ups and downs. We had good days, great days, and bad days. But we both saw the potential in each other to fight for what we had, work on ourselves, and be together. We continued to grow closer and closer, while meeting more of each other's friends and family. We were on the road to forever. We started looking at rings and discussing our life together and I finally pulled the trigger on her ring. Though I held on to it longer than I should've, I had no doubts that I would propose to her, and I wanted the proposal to be perfect. With the help of Taylor and Emma, I was able to surprise Abby with a proposal on a Wednesday night in July and then another surprise of having some of our close friends and family waiting for us at Abby's house following the proposal.

Abby: I had been sending Mark all the ideas and the Pinterest board from day one. I knew he would do well but I am a planner so I couldn’t help but to snoop and try to smell it out. I remember my friend Keri was having lunch with me on a Monday and I said “Mark just randomly said he has something for me to do on Wednesday for my birthday… it’s July and my bday isn’t until November. Hmmm all day on Wednesday I was going back and forth if it was engagement or just a photoshoot. Finally, when we were walking down the path at Lake Storey, candles surrounding a silly candle with “love” on it. I looked at Mark and said “is this for us” and he looked at me and didn’t say anything- I knew. I couldn’t remember what he said but I remember how I felt. I didn’t want the moment to end. Then when I opened my eyes I saw Taylor (Mark's groomsman) peeking from behind the tree. Him and his wife Emma (bridesmaid) captured it all. Then we went back to the house and Mark had invited some of our favorites to celebrate together. BALLFEST. Then he comes out with multicolored cupcakes. Our engagement was nothing that I sent him and better than I could have imagined. I’m extremely lucky and feel so grateful.

Mark: Since we got engaged, we have been in full wedding planning mode. Abby has taken the lead, as she has helped plan dozens of weddings already, and I have offered input here and there. It has been exciting to discuss our special day and I love to see the joy in Abby as she talks about it, shows me different ideas, and when a decision gets made. We are both very excited for you to be at our wedding and celebrate with us!

Photo: To be known is to be seen… Sara (Abby’s So Chic Boss) had a meeting with Mark and Abby to pick out their wedding invites. When they had made their decision, she said “wait here I have something for you.” She came back with this welcome sign. A few days before the meeting she had a piece of signage left over and made this sign, thinking that it was very much in their colors. Abby and Mark picked out the exact flowers/colors font. ♥️

Abby: wedding planning is in my blood. I’ve been planning weddings and events for a long time, 7 years at the wonderful So Chic. At every wedding, beside my boss, Sara, we would talk about the speeches, flowers, the details and I would imagine that one day this would be my day. All the planning and colors fell into place. Mark and I have talked about what was the top three most important things at our wedding and aligned our decisions in that way. 1. We want our people to be there. 2. We want to be stress free on that day so we want a great photographer and videographer 3. We want to dance the night away. We can’t wait to celebrate accordingly and are so lucky to have people to celebrate the beginning of our lives together as a family.