We first met in 2017 working together at New Baden Market Center, but we didn’t start dating until the following summer. What started out as coworkers quickly turned into friends, and friends to a couple. Our first date was June 16, 2018 to the movies. Many more memories have been made since that day in 2018. Two of our top favorite memories as a couple are buying a house together and (obviously) the night we got engaged.

Here is how that epic day  came about:  We got a gift card to Ruth’s Chris Steak House in St. Louis, which was a super fancy dinner, much nicer than anywhere we’d ever eaten before. We got all dressed up, ate our dinner, and went down to the arch because Katherine wanted to take pictures together all dressed up. It actually worked out well for Branden because he didn’t have to think of a way to get her down to the arch without her suspecting anything.  Somehow Katherine didn’t see Branden’s sister hiding at the arch grounds to take pictures, but it was all captured perfectly.

The proposal is Katherine’s favorite story to tell. “Being completely honest, I didn’t know it was coming. But what’s funny is I made comments about it multiple times that day. I said “I want to be wearing this exact outfit when we get engaged.” and “Do you have a ring in your pocket?” I even asked him a few days before if we were getting engaged that weekend to which he responded “Yep.” and I didn’t think he was being serious, because let’s be honest who says that if they’re actually doing it? He totally threw me for a loop and I had no idea. He was calm, cool, and collected. I thought for sure he’d be acting weird, but he acted like it was any other normal day. Acting was top-notch.”
And Branden’s story is simple. “With all the comments she was making, I thought she knew it was coming. But in reality, she had no idea and it turned out to be a perfect surprise and a day I’ll remember forever.”