a man and woman holding hands and walking on sand
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Sleeping Bear Dunes Engagement | Lauren + Jake

Lauren and Jake’s love story began on a regular night in May 2019, when a mutual friend introduced them at a bar. It wasn’t a planned setup—just two people who instantly clicked. By the fall, Lauren took a chance and invited Jake to accompany her to a wedding where she was a bridesmaid. That moment marked the start of an inseparable connection between them.

Jake’s proposal was both heartfelt and surprising. Just two days before, he had met with Lauren’s father over coffee to ask for his blessing. They had plans to celebrate Jake’s birthday that weekend with dinner in downtown Toledo, and since they had browsed engagement rings earlier that year, Lauren couldn’t shake the feeling that Saturday might be the night. After dinner, Jake took her to a beautifully lit holiday park, but the evening passed quietly. Lauren started to wonder if the moment she had dreamed about would ever come.

The next evening, Jake suggested they return to the park, making it seem like a casual continuation of his birthday celebration. As they strolled through the sparkling holiday lights, Jake stopped at a giant ornament display, dropped to one knee, and asked Lauren to be his forever. Her best friend was there to capture the magic, making the moment even more unforgettable.

Lauren realized Jake was “the one” during a road trip to Hocking Hills in March 2020. In a quiet moment on the trip, she understood that as long as Jake was by her side, she didn’t need anything else. Jake, too, knew early on. Despite the two-and-a-half-hour drive between them, he never hesitated to make the trip to Columbus, knowing he couldn’t imagine his weekends, or his life, without Lauren.

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