Julie & Chad in Minnetrista, MN

Julie Johnson and Chad Hiller met through a mutual friend who’d made one thing clear to Chad in advance: “You’d better enjoy dogs.” Julie owns three dogs and is trained as a dog groomer, so any friend of hers also has to love man’s best friend. Fortunately, not only did Chad hit it off with Julie, but her dogs loved him too. Julie had always hoped to open her own dog grooming shop one day, and as a couple she and Chad set to work making that dream a reality, scouting locations and writing a business plan. The Bride Julie Johnson, 29 The Groom Chad Hiller, 36 The Date June 11 Two years after their meeting, they opened Shampooch Grooming Salon together in Hopkins. “We love to work together, which we believe has been a huge part of our success,” Julie says. Seven months after Chad proposed at home, the couple exchanged vows in a historic country church, followed by a reception in a picture-perfect red barn, complete with a pork barbecue and a square dance caller.