The Beginning of a Charmed Life

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Once upon at time, in the northwest suburbs, there lived a boy and a girl that happened to both be on Speech Team. The boy's name was Henning, a junior who went to Schamburg High School. The girl's name was Lauren, a sophomore who went to Fenton High School. They didn't know each other well, but they saw each other every Saturday and competed against each other.  They were friends, but the thought of dating never crossed their minds.

That all changed several years later, when both Henning and Lauren were in college. On a snowy evening during winter break, the two met casually for coffee, and immediately felt a spark. There was an affection, that went deeper than their mutual interest for deep dish pizza. By New Years Eve of 2014, the two shared their first date, with a lovey night of a fine Italian dinner, Improv Comedy, and Fireworks at Navy Pier.  Thus began a whirlwind relationship. Henning was a University of Illinois ROTC cadet, with many large decisions ahead of him, while Lauren was still a Purdue First Year Engineer that didn't quite have the world under her feet yet. In order for each other to grow, the couple went their separate ways.

It would be Spring Break of 2016 when Henning and Lauren would see each other again. Meeting together over a pancake breakfast, the two realized, just like the first time, there was the spark between them. Wanting to spend more time together, Lauren suggested going on a weekend trip to Nashville together. Following the whim, Henning agreed.  Between the Two Step and the Tequila Cowboy, it was a weekend they would never forget. The spark had turned into a flame, and burned brighter than ever before.

Lauren and Henning spent the better part of the following years doing absolutely everything they could to be together - both traveling to see one another as much as possible.  Lauren even took a semester of online classes and moved to Texas to be with Henning for 2 months.  Once out of school, the two began the "adulting" stage of life, but with that came two working salaries and the ability for both to travel all over the United States.  On one of these trips they fell in love with the Paso Robles Wine Country, and some time later (after Henning popped the question and Lauren excitedly said YES), they decided that the Cass Winery was the perfect location to say "I Do".  

Their wedding day was filled with joy from start to finish.  They were surrounded by all of the people who they love and who love them back, and when they said their vows beneath a huge Oak tree at the Cass Winery, the happiness was palpable!  What followed was an evening of charm, magic, great food, amazing company, and love...it was pure magic.  Lauren summed their relationship up best with:

9 years of knowing each other existed.

6 years of knowing there was a connection.

3 years of knowing that it was love.

1 year of knowing this is the best choice they've ever made.

Love truly does conquer all...