Casey and Michael's story is one filled with endless laughter, constant joking, a love sweet and pure, a whole lot of patience, moments of sadness, a surplus of joy, and at its core...friendship.

Casey and Michael met their freshman year of high school. It all began in the hallway -- with just a glance, Casey's heart started thumping and butterflies filled her stomach. She couldn't wait to tell her mom. When 3pm finally arrived Casey hopped into the car, smiling from ear to ear. "Mom! There is a boy at school. His name is Michael Kieffer and he is the cutest boy I have ever seen!" She didn't really know how to explain it, but somehow, deep down, Casey knew Michael was going to be important to her.

Like all great things, their friendship grew slowly and steadily. On his 15th birthday, Casey made him a duct tape bow tie and gave him a bag of skittles. Later that year, during a bus ride, Michael sat next to Casey and comforted her after a boy made her cry. To the outside world, their friendship didn't look anything special or appear to run very deep. They rarely socialized outside the walls of their school, and spoke only occasionally during a few shared classes and theatre rehearsal. However, inside their phones was a hidden world of text messages. They shared their insecurities, encouraged each other, and quietly became each other's biggest confidants.

After graduation in 2013, life pulled them in different directions. Michael enlisted in the Navy, while Casey went to Ball State University. Suddenly, they found themselves 2,000 miles apart. For six years, they lived completely different lives, only getting to see each other for short periods of time once a year. FaceTime, texts, emails, and phone calls became how they kept their friendship going. Where many long-distance friendships fade, theirs became stronger. Each time Michael had to return to Washington, Casey's heart broke a little more. She was so tired of saying goodbye.

At long last, in January 2020, Michael returned home for good. And just a few months later, to no one's surprise, they had their first date.

They dated for almost five years -- five incredible years filled with laughter, adventure, and a love that had been quietly building since that first glance all those years ago.

Then finally, FINALLY, on January 18, 2025, Michael got down on one knee -- on a stage, in front of their closest family, friends, and an entire room full of strangers -- and asked Casey to marry him.

And of course, her answer had always been yes.