There’s something especially wonderful about spring in Iowa. The long, cold winter finally gives way to the chirping of birds and a landscape that starts to wake in a riot of color. We hit those early spring colors with the blooming crab apple trees downtown and the tulip field at Wilson’s Orchard and all of it is making me excited for even more color to burst in the next few weeks.

I met up with Paige and Mark near Hancher, where the architecture of the buildings made a beautiful contrast to the soft purple and white blossoms. The tulips at Wilson’s are not quite ready yet, but enough of them were in bloom to give us the spring vibes we were hoping for.

Paige and Mark met by luck (or fate) at the Dubuque County Fair in 2019. Paige was living in Iowa City, but was back in her hometown for the concert at the fair. Mark, who is from Iowa City, just so happened to also be at the fair for work. A mutual friend introduced them that night and they spent “the rest of that night together, and pretty much every day since then.”

It didn’t take them long to know their future together; Paige said she knew he was the one within that first week of knowing him. Mark describes her as “beautiful, caring, loving, and understanding. She is the world’s best human.”

He had the ring for a little while but wasn’t sure how he was going to propose “so I thought, what better time than New Year’s Eve?” They went to dinner that evening and then went back to their house. “We were just sitting by the fireplace going to have a low-key night together then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him!” Paige said.

They both describe their excitement for their wedding day. Paige said, “Getting to marry my best friend while I’m surrounded by my favorite people in the world!” and Mark commented, “Fun, family, and friends having a great time together. Also getting to marry the love of my life, PAIGE (SOON-TO-BE) ROHRET.” It’s coming up quickly and I’m so excited to spend the day celebrating with them!