Their story began in the spring of their senior year of high school—like so many young, lasting relationships do—on Snapchat. Brooke was sitting in a Starbucks with a close friend, who would later become one of her bridesmaids, chatting about finding a prom date. In a spur-of-the-moment matchmaking attempt, her friend added a boy named Tom Heppler to Brooke’s Snapchat.

Meanwhile, at Covington Catholic, Tom noticed a friend request from a girl and added her back. They started chatting and a mutual spark became obvious—messages flowed easily, as though they had known each other for years.

Within days, they decided to meet in person. Tom invited Brooke over, and from the moment she arrived, they just clicked. He was charming and funny, keeping her laughing nearly the entire time. Soon, their conversations and time together became part of their daily routine.

On June 6th, 2019, after spending the day together, Tom walked Brooke to her car and they made things official.

For the next four years, they navigated an 80-mile gap while Brooke attended the University of Kentucky and Tom studied at the University of Cincinnati. Their weekends together were filled with adventures—cheering at sporting events, attending Keeneland races, and exploring local restaurants.

On September 21st, 2024, Tom brought Brooke to Covington, with the Ohio River and Cincinnati as their view. Surrounded by family, he dropped to one knee and asked her to marry him.

After nearly six years of dating—four of them long distance—they are finally beginning the life they’ve always dreamed of, grateful for the love and support of family and friends, and ready to celebrate their wedding surrounded by the people who have been part of their journey.