Grace & Erik in Minneapolis, MN

While out one night at a University of Minnesota bar, mutual friends introduced Grace and Erik. Erik was there for good-bye drinks to celebrate his upcoming trip to Hungary, but when he returned to the US, the same group of friends went out again. Grace and Erik talked more that night, and soon after, they began dating. The Bride Grace Eelkema, 25, art director The Groom Erik Pepin, 24, engineer The Date September 20 Two years later, while on a trip to Big Sky, Montana, with Grace’s family, Erik tried to entice Grace with some alone time. She said no—her parents were there! Despite that, Erik asked again, and again, Grace refused. Finally, Erik offered an alternative: “Will you marry me instead?” and he pulled out a ring. They got married nine months later.