“I am 30, he’s 27, so we met like all people 30 or under: online,” Andrew said of meeting his fiancé, Aidan. Andrew, back in 2014 was somewhat of a self-declared serial dater and was very adept at navigating the apps. But he impressed Aidan by going beyond the typical first overture of “hey, s’up?” and wrote a considered note remarking on Aidan’s profile. 

After some time chatting, they set their first date. One, that Andrew described as… disastrous! “Many of the milestones of our relationship were disasters,” he explained! 

While having Old Fashions at a local bar in their hometown of Milwaukee, Andrew got a call from a friend who was having a hard time. “I asked if he’d mind if I took the call.” Despite Aidan saying yes to Andrew’s request, he debated leaving “there and then.” 

(Photo: LK Photography)

Following the date, Andrew pursued Aidan pretty doggedly and Aiden gave in and consented to a second date, one where there were literal fireworks (Andrew is “like a child” when it comes to his love of fireworks) and the two “fell in love right away.” 

The two dated for a year before moving in together and thereafter bought a house together. Having made a home together, the next step was to get engaged. The two discussed who would propose, to which Andrew said: “I think I’d like for you to propose.” And thus, their engagement was set in motion… and their next disastrous milestone! 

It was July 3rd, 2017 and, it being Fourth of July Weekend, fireworks were on hand. Aidan booked a table at a lakeside restaurant and had planned, depending on the mood, to propose there. But, before either of them knew it, another couple at the same restaurant, got engaged, scuttling Aidan’s plan. 

Next opportunity to pop the question, was to be on the lakefront watching fireworks. Aidan had identified a spot of grass near a light post and just far enough from the road. “It being Milwaukee on the holiday, there were lots of drunk people around.” One group of typical “gym guys” decided that they light from the post was too bright and so one of them decided to climb the post and cover the light. But, he slipped and from 15-20 feet feel to the ground directly on his back. 

(Photo: LK Photography)

“I am an Eagle Scout and know First Aid,” which prompted Andrew to go tend to the injured drunkard, while Aidan waited. 

Once officials arrived, Andrew rejoined Aidan, and both turned their attention to the fireworks display. But, shortly thereafter were once again interrupted by a car crash on the road behind them! The couple had to move to a different spot. 

Finally, as the fireworks finale was underway, but still frustrated by his many attempts to propose, Aidan turned to Andrew and asked: “Should we just get married, or what?” Flustered, Andrew asked if he was serious and eventually said, “yeah, sure, let’s do it?” While there were fireworks in the sky, there weren’t really any between the couple at such a momentous occasion. 

The two realized that the moment wasn’t right when, upon returning home, didn’t make mention of their engagement to their neighbors, nor had they told anyone, yet. Thus, the two acknowledged that their engagement “hadn’t gone well” and agreed to treat it as “a dry run.”  

About two months later, Aidan tried again. 

The two are friends with a wedding florist who often turns to them for help at her events and for style shoots. Aidan had agreed with her to fake a magazine shoot so that the two would turn up dressed to the nines at the Villa Terrace, a “beer baron” mansion turned museum.  

(Photo: Autumn Silva Photography)

It wasn’t surprising for Andrew to see a photographer and videographer and other staff, but when he asked where the models were, Aidan replied, “today you’re the model,” and, surrounded by lush gardens and under a floral archway, Aidan got down on one knee and proposed. 

Together with their friends, who had reserved the gardens for them to enjoy for the afternoon, Andrew and Aidan posed for photographs and bask in a now-perfect milestone. 

“We told our server at the restaurant, random people on the street, all of our friends and family, everybody” said Andrew, providing further proof of this being the engagement they’d both imagined. 

Now, the two are well into planning their wedding for May ’19, along with their friend, the wedding florist, who is serving as their de facto planner. Thanks to many of the shoots Andrew and Aidan participated in, they have a whole group of professionals helping them out. 

(Photo: Autumn Silva Photography)

“We came into the wedding planning with some pre-conceived notions of what the wedding had to be, and we slowly came to learn that, we don’t have to follow any conventions. If we don’t want boutonnieres, we don’t have to have them! We get to include the traditions – or create new ones - that we want.”

While we don’t want to give anything away about the wedding – you’ll have to read our June ’19 edition for all the details – we did want to share one of the German wedding traditions they are including in the ceremony: “sawing the log.” Together, the two will saw through a tree log as a symbol of the two becoming a team facing life and its opportunities and challenges. 

It is clear these two have already mastered being able to take what life throws their way and toast – as they do, with Old Fashions at that bar at which they first met – what it is to have found the one.