How did you meet?
It's Amy's fault! Ben's sister-in-law, Amy, has been friends with Melissa for over a decade. In late 2023, something clicked in her head that we were basically the same person, and she got the brilliant idea to try to make an introduction.
Ben was all about it, giving Amy the green light. But first, she had to convince Melissa... Amy told her how amazing, smart, funny, and kind Ben is, hooking Melissa in before dropping the little detail that he lived 5 hours away! Even with that new piece of information, Melissa felt it couldn't hurt to give it a shot.
Melissa texted Ben a question about fonts and spreadsheets (our love language), and we haven't missed one day of being in touch since! After more than a year of visiting each other in our respective homes and sometimes meeting in the middle (or meeting across the country), Ben moved back to Minnesota so we could start the rest of our life together!
Who made the first move?
Ben offered his arm as they walked on a snowy sidewalk on their first date, does that count?
What first attracted you to each other?
Ben: Her radiant smile and how genuinely kind, caring, and empathetic she is!
Melissa: His eyes… they are so genuine. I instantly knew he was kind. And, his smile. It made me happy.
What is your favorite memory with each other?
Ben: There are just too many to pick one! Our times walking around Milwaukee, going to beer gardens and SummerFest were when we grew to know each other. Our trip together to Iceland and Stockholm is also something I'll never forget!
Melissa: All of those memories are favorites, but mine has to be the first night he told me he loved me. I said it first, but his response was “I love you, too, but I think you already knew that.” I did. :)
What is your favorite way of spending time together?
Ben: Any time we spend together is my favorite, no matter if it's traveling across the world, sitting at a brewery, going for a walk with the dog, or just sitting on the couch in the living room.
Melissa: He took my answer.
How did you get engaged?
After the cold and less-than-ideal Northern Lights experience and proposal plan didn't happen, Ben had grand plans of doing it at a Christmas market in Stockholm, Sweden. That day was just one hiccup/mishap after another, including the Christmas market closing as we arrived...
After more difficulties and setbacks, and several thwarted opportunities, we were back in the hotel room, packing up on our last night in Stockholm. Ben was determined to make it happen, so it was onto plan E. With Melissa falling asleep in bed, Ben asked, "Do you want to have a good end to a bad day?" Melissa, being positive, said “it wasn't a bad day.” Ben, trying to push the point, said, "Well, would you like to make a not bad day even better?" She asked, "How?" and he pulled out the ring and said, "Marry me?" To which Melissa said “what?” about 10 times, keeping Ben in [unnecessary] suspense and through tears, said “YES!!!” (I’d only been waiting over a year…)
It wasn't anywhere near what was planned, but it ended up being perfectly us, always making the best of any situation, and something to really remember!
Why did you decide on a destination wedding?
We wanted something that wouldn't require planning too many of the details, to allow us to really enjoy our big day. That, and the moment we even mentioned the idea of a wedding in Mexico in December to our friends and family, they basically locked it in and required we do it!