Our Story

We met on Bumble in the fall of 2018. After a couple weeks of chatting on the app, we met for the first time at Fong’s Pizza. Was it love a first “slice”? It may have been, as the lunch date turned into a walk around NewBo, then an evening spent talking at Parlor City. Our second date was even longer— we met for breakfast, then ended up spending the WHOLE day together, venturing around the Cedar Rapids Art Museum, Thomas Park, and even a trip to Menards. It was evident that we just wanted to spend as much time together as possible.

On January 1, 2019, we became an official couple, which was the best way to start a new year. We spent the year getting to know each other even better by going on walks and adventures, going to church together, meeting family and friends, and getting to know each other’s cats. Our family and cats approved of our love, so we knew we had a solid future ahead of us.

In February 2020, Darin sealed the deal with a beautiful proposal. We went for a walk at Bever Park, then Darin pulled his ukulele out of his backpack and played the song “Band of Gold” by the Gray Havens. He professed his love and proposed a life together, and of course Maren said, “Yes”! To bring things full circle, that evening we celebrated our engagement at Fong’s Pizza.

The year 2020 brought some obvious challenges, as we navigated wedding planning in a pandemic and experienced a natural disaster together. We spent the summer house hunting, and closed on our very first home three days before the August 10 derecho. We were so blessed to have each other and our faith to lean on during challenging days.

On October 24, 2020, we got married at Bethany Lutheran Church. It was an intimate ceremony, with both of our families present. Although the pandemic has been a unique time to be newlyweds, we have been enjoying the opportunity to spend more quality time together at home.

We look forward to renewing our vows on April 24, 2021!