He knew she would be on the trolley that night. Preston had spent his high school years passing the brow-eyed girl in the hallways, desperately wanting to make a move but never finding the right moment. It wasn’t until after high school, when he realized that there was a connection between mutual friends and suddenly, the timing felt right. Something inside Ashtin agreed as her heart leapt through her shirt every time her eyes locked with Preston’s as the trolley drove through downtown. She decided to start a conversation and they spent the rest of the evening in a smooth cadence of conversation that old friends would have, even though they had barely met. Two weeks later, they were celebrating Ashtin’s birthday hand-in-hand and whispering “I love you” for the first time. They knew – this was it.

Just a few years later, Preston was on one knee in the middle of a sunflower field, asking the girl that held his heart to be his wife. They spent the next 12 months welcoming a little girl into their family, building a house, and planning a future. We spent the evening wandering through France Park, exploring the hidden waterfalls and quarries that Indiana has to offer. They’ll be married next year on a summer morning at Union 12 surrounded by family, friends, mimosas, and the best brunch Fort Wayne could offer. Ashtin and Preston, spending the evening with you was the perfect end to the summer and I can’t wait to party it up with you next June. All the love, my friends – xx, M