Jeremy and Dawn first met in the second grade at El Shaddai School in Owatonna, Minnesota. They enjoyed playing together after lunch, inventing "bug catchers" and coloring pictures and selling them for the other kids' autographs, among other things. They were quite the class entrepreneurs.

Dawn transferred schools in the middle of third grade and they lost touch. Occasionally, their paths crossed again over their years in middle school through summer camp and church functions. "Cooties" were rampant at this age, so they didn't reinitiate the childhood friendship at that time. In 9th grade, they once again attended the same school, and were even placed next to each other in the seating arrangement. Still nothing clicked.

It wasn't until Dawn was in her senior year and saw Jeremy again at a youth group function, that she felt an interest in speaking to him again. But she forgot about that encounter when she went off to university that fall.

One day out of the blue, Dawn's mother mentioned Jeremy's mutual interest in computers. Dawn decided to email him. They started talking online back and forth, but unfortunately for Dawn, Jeremy was dating someone else at the time. They casually stayed in contact online for several months.

Towards the end of the school year, Jeremy became single again. They felt maybe it was time to meet again, since they didn't live very far from one another. The initial meeting was uncomfortable but they soon clicked due to their many mutual interests. It didn't take long to realize that there was chemistry and they started officially dating a few weeks later.

They dated long distance through the next year of school. They both decided to transfer to a university that they wanted to attend together. Oregon was chosen and they relocated there. Due to the year long residency they had to establish before attending university, they both found web development jobs in Portland, Oregon.

The local tech economy went bust in early 2001 and thousands were laid off. Both of their workloads dwindled to 10-20 hours a week and they could no longer afford to stay in the area. Job security was no longer available for both of them so they reevaluated university plans. Dawn returned to Minnesota State University while Jeremy resumed working at his former position.

Jeremy and Dawn first discussed marriage in the second year of their relationship. They knew there was no reason to rush into such a serious commitment. When the time was right, they agreed that they would seriously consider taking the next step.

That time came later that year. Neither wanted to wait until they finished their post-secondary education, because they realized that could take several more years of maintaining a long distance relationship. Since Dawn wasn't deep into her major yet, they decided it was the right time to take the next step.

Jeremy proposed on Valentines Day, 2002 during dinner at the Nicollet Island Inn. It was the perfect candlelit setting for such an occasion. Jeremy presented Dawn with a ½ carat diamond & platinum engagement ring, and of course, she said yes. The engagement was official! But then came the complicated part- the huge task of planning a wedding!