They met at the University of Iowa their sophomore year and quickly became best friends. One night a couple years later in 2006 (the year they would later call “the magical year”), Nick casually asked Gina if she would be his date to his friend’s wedding. “I was surprised and flattered (and had a little bit of butterflies, which was different) and said definitely!”

“I was crushing hard on her,” Nick said. “I was thrilled when she agreed to go with me. We had the best drive to the wedding, sharing stories and our love for music (blasting Pearl Jam, Blink-182, Angels and Airwaves, and Taking Back Sunday) the whole car ride.”

“We had the best time at the wedding together,” Gina added. “We really didn’t know anyone else there so we did what we did best together: had some beers and laughed all night. I’ll always remember the feeling when we slow danced for the first time together, nervous and unsure why since he was just a friend. And then the longer we danced, it just started to feel natural.”

That wedding kicked off the summer of magic. They began dating a month later and say they have been inseparable since. “The happiness I felt (and still feel) with her was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I’ve always had the feeling of, no matter what I’m doing, I just can’t wait to be with Gina again. She brings out the best in me.”

Nick planned the proposal for homecoming weekend in Iowa City in 2019. “For us, Iowa City is home and our favorite place in the world since it is where we found each other. We were enjoying a sunny, picture-perfect Friday afternoon back in town, reminiscing and checking out our favorite spots. When we got to the area near the Pentacrest where we used to run into each other between classes and share a quick hug and chat, I got down on one knee and proposed.”

“I truly had no idea that easy, beautiful afternoon would end up with us being engaged!!” Gina said.

Gina & Nick were such a delight to hang out with. We met at the Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens for their engagement shoot–a new location to me–and we roamed around the grounds, finding spots they both like to visit when they’re there and spots, like the English Garden, where I couldn’t stop oohing and ahhing. Since they both love being together in nature, it felt like the perfect location!

Their wedding is coming up next month (!!) and they are both so thrilled to “finally marry the love of my life and start the adventure of our next chapter together.” (Nick added, “She’s the girl of my dreams. I am the luckiest guy in the world.”)