Drew and Tyler
May 12, 2018
Tyler initially messaged Drew online… such a millennial thing to do! Since that first message, Drew and Tyler hit it off discovering many shared interests, experiences, and goals. Tyler admitted one of his lifelong goals was to visit Australia, which led to Drew sharing every detail from his trip down under from the previous summer. After a week or two of Drew trying to “play hard to get", which Tyler saw right through, they both agreed to meet downtown. Tyler was out with his wild med school friends after finishing an exam and Drew was out his friends. Although last call was approaching, we were still able to meet up at the Dubliner Pub. Tyler, surrounded by high-energy, crazy medical students, initially shielded him from Drew, but he finally spotted Tyler at the bar. Tyler's friends welcomed Drew and his crew with open arms (one of Tyler's classmates even tried to snag Drew for herself before realizing he was there to meet Tyler). Although last call had already been called, Tyler used his persuasive nature to order some brewskys for Drew and his friends. We spent the rest of the night sharing laughs and getting to know one another. When it was finally time to call it a night, Drew pleaded for Tyler to come home with him while yelling from the side of an Uber. Although Tyler knew he really enjoyed meeting and talking to Drew, he decided to go home and catch up on some much needed sleep (which turned out to definitely be the smart decision as Drew ended up spending much of the night sleeping near a toilet). After such a fun evening, Drew and Tyler continued to text more and more prompting Drew to ask Tyler out on an official date!
Our first official date was at a vegan restaurant of all places appropriately titled, Modern Love. Here, Drew still would not stop talking about Australia and himself; however, Tyler was able to sneak in a word or two as well. Modern Love was still a new restaurant and did not have their liquor license just yet, but they did allow you to bring your own beer. Tyler picked up some of his favorite beer and met Drew in a small corner of the crowded restaurant. We continued to share stories and get to know each other more and more. After spending a few hours chatting, Drew scared off the rest of the customers with his loud and rambunctious method for telling stories. We took our cue and got ready to leave. With leftovers in one hand, keys in the other, we exchanged a very awkward hug in the parking lot before heading our separate ways.
Tyler was beginning the second semester of his medical school career which one can assume (and now as Drew has witnessed firsthand) is no easy feat! Despite the never-ending pressure to study, Tyler frequently reminded Drew he was “a scheduling pro” and many future dates and meetings of each other’s friends ensued. Drew also tried to help Tyler study from time to time over the next few weeks except after about the 100th time of Drew mispronouncing a term, Tyler politely asked that Drew no longer try to “help”.
These dates subsequently led Tyler to nonchalantly ask Drew to officially date on February 15th, 2015 at Drew’s house. After much consideration (kidding), Drew said yes. Drew, not wanting to look overtly eager, bit his tongue from saying the “L word” for a day or two before he could no longer hold it and blurted out “I LOVE YOU!” in the most romantic of places, the bathroom of the 52nd Street House. This was just in the nick of time as Tyler also had to muster up enough courage to ask Drew to Med Prom a few weeks later.
Time continued to fly and Tyler found himself in his fourth year of medical school. An important part of fourth year, is traveling around the US interviewing at potential residency locations. Although Drew was in his final semester of graduate school and busy with work, he was able to travel to Chicago with Tyler to join him for one of his interviews. The location worked out well in many other regards including catching up with friends and family! We stayed with Drew’s previous boss, turned friend, who greatly assisted in Drew’s proposal along with our friend Jon. Drew, Jon, and Ena worked together to plan a surprise proposal on Cindy’s Rooftop overlooking Millennium Park. There were only a few minor mishaps due to Drew’s chronic tardiness and Chicago traffic; however, it all worked out as Tyler said yes on November 11th, 2017! We were able to celebrate with brunch surrounded by champagne, hefty quantities of food, and several friends!
Tyler was full of surprises this December! Not only did he trick Drew into thinking he would not be able to come to Florida for Christmas with Drew’s family, he was also planning a proposal of his own! Tyler surprised Drew with the only gift Drew had asked for late Christmas Eve, a plane ticket for him to come to Florida! The celebration was temporarily suspended as Tyler had to get up in three hours in order to catch his 5:30AM flight. Sticking with the flight theme, only moments before Drew was about to reluctantly take Tyler to the airport for his flight home, Tyler got down on one knee in the front yard of Drew’s grandparents house. Tyler acknowledged that many items were already set for our May 12th, 2018 date (although our wedding planner would probably disagree), but found it important to officially ask Drew to marry him as well. Drew yelled “Sure!” in the goofiest and most obnoxious way he can, but deep down was ecstatic as he loves his grandparent’s waterfront property and could not be happier to add another special memory!
Mary, Mary, quite contrary… except in Drew’s eyes as we share many similarities since first meeting in 2013 at our friend Braasch’s going away dinner. We were sitting directly across from each other and soon discovered a large slew of uncommon commonalities ranging from Type-1 Diabetics to living in the same town halfway across the world in Ghana only one year apart. Since that day Mary and I have grown to be best friends traveling the world together, sharing a love for margaritas, and perhaps taking photos that are best not shared in mixed company. Mary acted on our mutual love of traveling by becoming a traveling nurse. The distance is often difficult except for the one weekend on her assignment Drew comes to visit wherever she is and pickup right where we left off!
Jared, Jared, Jared. Drew and Jared initially met when they were both in elementary school through church activities. Our moms were quick friends; however, we were far from forced to be friends as we naturally became close through the years as well. Jared is quite the character and a lover of all things music. Somehow Drew managed to make it through many lengthy one-sided rambles from Jared and still decided that he was worth keeping around. Jared has crashed many times in the Christensen basement and demolished many leftover containers in the fridge despite “not being hungry”. While Jared was finishing up his degree at UNO he moved into the 52nd Street house with Futch, Ben, and I where we all shared many hilarious memories. Jared is known to kill a party by dusting the fans while people are over in order to complete his chores. Do not worry, there are no fans in the Scoular Ballroom and if they decide to install some between now and May 12th the ceilings are 30 feet… I think we’ll be alright! Lastly, Jared loves to chat so I hope you do not get stuck behind him at the bar. Nonetheless, if you do, ask him why as a UNO alum he was not able to put those skills to use and secure us a discount for our ceremony at the UNO Thompson ALUMNI Center!
Will is Drew's favorite brother! It just happens to be by default as he is also Drew’s only sibling. Together they share many memories that include Husker sports, our dog Ace, and making fun of our parents. Will was born five years after Drew; therefore, he was too far apart growing up to share many similar interests and was too close in age to be the cute younger brother. However, once Will turned 21 (or close enough to it) beer and tequila have allowed them to become closer than ever; consequently, you will probably see them frequenting the open bar!
Kenny and Drew have known each other since the good ol' days of seventh grade at Logan Fontenelle Middle School. After getting in trouble for writing inappropriate poems in English class we knew we would be lifelong friends as our sense of humor is hard to come by! While we continue to grow older we have not (and probably will not) grow up especially as we both recently discovered the game, What Do You Meme?
Abbey… Abbey and Drew have known each other for over 15 years and initially met at church as St. James UMC trusted this 20 year-old Creighton student to head the youth programs. Drew was just coming down from his husky jean phase as he entered seventh grade and Abbey well… no one really knows with her! What Drew knows is at their first meeting he had no idea of the relationship that was about to grow from youth director to mentor to friend to college paper editor (thank you!) to co-worker, but what an exciting adventure it has been! Drew cannot think of anyone else he would rather have officiate the ceremony and publicly wed the two of us! Drew and most level-headed individuals admire Abbey for all that she does for her family and community. With that, Drew sincerely values her opinion and Tyler did not stand a chance without Abbey’s approval. At what would be their first meeting, Abbey quickly dropped her son Jett off at Drew’s house for him and Tyler to watch as she and her husband Jason were on their way to a much-deserved date night in the midst of basketball season. We assumed trusting your first born with Drew and someone you just met to be an informal blessing! Tyler has grown to love Abbey and her family as well and together we are thrilled that Abbey agreed to become ordained online to conduct our ceremony and formally bring us together in front of family and friends! Abbey is unpredictable; therefore, having her, her two children, and our chocolate lab Jake in the ceremony should make it one to remember!
Jett Man is just as crazy (and loving) as his parents! Drew first heard the news of Jett’s birth as he was sitting in the airport in Ghana waiting to return to the US. One of the first items on Drew’s to-do list (besides finding milk and spinach after two months without) was to meet the little man. Ever since Drew met Jett he has held a special place in his heart and together we have enjoyed many walks, jam sessions, and games at Teen Center. If there is any doubt that the feeling is mutual check out the below video from Jett’s 2nd birthday. Jett has grown quite a bit from his helmet wearing days and we hope he is up for the challenge of escorting our 75 pound chocolate lab down the aisle!
Jada is a little (lottle) bit of a wild child, an independent woman at the spry age of three! She is also Abbey and Jason Jackson’s second child and is just a free-spirited as they are! Jada certainly loves to pave her own path and make her own waves; therefore, if she ties to slip into your row at the ceremony take it as a compliment and guide her to the front! We cannot thank Abbey and Jason enough for their friendship and perfectly timed childbearing for our wedding!
Brandon Braasch holds the record for being Drew’s longest (and goofiest) friend as the two met when they were both four years old at Welcome School. For 24 years now, Drew and Braasch have created countless memories with many ending in a belly laugh due to their sheer stupidity! For those who are not familiar with our relationship and run into him at the wedding here are a few talking points (not that you’ll need them as Braasch will talk to anyone): dumpster diving, slingshots, and chicky-poos during elementary and middle school, golf course shenanigans in high school, and mirror breaking, near deadly horse rides, woody wagon taxis, and of course O Street adventures during college. Topics to avoid: seafood, Nike Dri-fits, and Michelob Ultra. One additional cautionary tip: Braasch and I were freshman year roommates and graduates from the University of Nebraska; however, Braasch is now a converted Jaysker as he is a Creighton Basketball season ticket holder!
May 12
2018
May 12
2018
TO 12:00 am
Drew and Tyler
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