Katie and Mitch go way back — all the way to senior year of high school (proof shown below). Over the years, they crossed paths from time to time, usually during trips to the Lake of the Ozarks, while life took them in different directions and cities. Mitch lived in Milwaukee and then Boston, while Katie’s adventures included Tucson, Chicago, and Washington, DC. Though their paths overlapped occasionally, the timing never quite lined up.

That finally changed at the wedding of their good friends Andy and Liz. Once Mitch realized Katie was single, he was determined to take her on a date — even though they lived in different cities. Luckily, Mitch’s international work travel gave him the perfect excuse. He booked a layover in DC and casually suggested grabbing dinner while he was in town, making sure not to spook Katie by turning a long friendship into something too romantic too quickly.

What Katie didn’t know was that Mitch had meticulously planned the entire evening — researching restaurants, shopping for new clothes, and even scouting post-dinner locations. He was excited but also very visibly nervous. When the day arrived, Katie suggested a different restaurant, throwing his entire plan out the window. Instead, they enjoyed a perfect dinner overlooking the White House from the rooftop of the Washington Hotel.

The “not-a-date” went incredibly well and turned into a full night of bar hopping around DC, ending on the dance floor at what would become one of their favorite spots — Vegas Lounge.

Their next time together was a proper St. Louis date at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Lights, and from that point on, they decided to officially give long-distance a try. Thanks to Mitch’s relentless travel schedule (and an impressive stash of airline points), he was able to fly to DC frequently to see Katie. Those visits carried them through until Katie — along with Finn — agreed to make the move to Boston to join Mitch.

Since then, their life together has been filled with highs, lows, laughter, and growth — always knowing they were meant to be a team. Mitch finally popped the question on a trip to Punta Cana, proposing to Katie on the beautiful Bavaro Beach.

Today, they live in Michigan, where they enjoy exploring their new home, co-parenting a very needy dog, and making frequent trips back to St. Louis to spend time with the friends and family they love most.