Austin did not immediately fall head over heels in love with Brooke when he first met her in the Fall of 2015. In fact, even though they acted together in a play at Hillsdale College, he has shared that he “could never remember the name of the redhead who was always carrying a ton of books and wearing green headphones.” 

However, Brooke was determined to befriend him. From the final curtain that November the two were inseparable friends. “I didn’t know why at the time, but I was so drawn to him. I knew I wanted him as my best friend’,” she noted. 

Their friendship and shared interests blossomed over the following months. On a trip to Holland, MI—the bride’s favorite place in the world—Austin realized that he loved Brooke as much more than a friend, and he needed to verbally convey his feelings. Sharing later with family, Austin explained that “once I saw Brooke’s happy place, I saw her. I knew that I loved her, and I couldn’t keep it in anymore. I wanted to marry her.”