Looks Of Love Contest Finalists – Vote For Your Favorite Love Story!

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we’re thrilled to announce the finalists of Wed Society Iowa’s annual Looks of Love contest! There’s truly nothing more heartwarming than reading a love story and seeing beautiful photos that capture the special bond between two people. Over the past two weeks, our team has read and admired the many amazing love stories shared to us and have selected the top 8 couples to enter our Instagram voting competition kicking off on Tuesday, February 11th! Keep on reading to get a jumpstart on reading the incredible love stories of these 8 couples and tune in each day to @wedsociety.iowa to vote for your favorite couples and love story. The winner will be announced on Friday, February 14th and receive a $250 gift card to a restaurant of their choice!

Brooke + Jack

Brooke and Jack grew up a block away from one another, yet their lives didn’t cross until Brooke’s freshman year of high school. They met through a mutual friend when Jack joined their school’s debate team. They were friends all throughout high school and if there was one thing that wasn’t up for debate, it was that they were meant to be more than just friends. During Brooke’s senior year of high school, Jack was a freshman in college and called Brooke every night. They would talk until early in the morning about everything you could imagine. Brooke eventually drove down to Iowa City and confessed her feelings. Not long after that, they started dating. Now almost four years later, they are still the best of friends and can’t wait to get married this October!

Elizabeth + Michael

Michael and Elizabeth met by chance on a WebEx call when they worked for the same accounting firm in 2020. Michael lived in Omaha, and Elizabeth lived in West Des Moines. Unknowingly, both felt a connection that day on the call but weren’t quite sure what it was, as they were in the middle of tax season—sleep deprived and over-caffeinated. Despite the exhaustion, they quickly became fast friends. They never stopped talking after that day, bonding over work woes, their differing sports teams, and discovering their many similarities over months of genuinely getting to know each other.

They finally met in person in May 2021, and it felt like meeting an old friend they had known their whole life. They had brunch, spending hours talking and laughing. Though people often say they “just knew” when they met their person, Elizabeth truly knew at that moment that something special was happening. She had never felt so comfortable or able to be herself.

The pair did long distance for a year, which was challenging with both working in public accounting and managing tax deadlines. In March 2022, Elizabeth moved to Omaha. Then, in April 2023, Michael proposed at the Cottonwood Hotel in Omaha in their favorite hallway, lined with plants—a detail they both loved and had in common. To top it off, they ended the night at a Dan + Shay concert, where the band gave them a special shout-out and congratulated them on Instagram, making the night even more memorable.

In January 2024, they had a secret elopement at the Historic Polk County Courthouse on January 16th before their big wedding in May. Why get married once to the love of your life when you can do it twice?

Having both waited a long time to find each other—Elizabeth is 37, and Michael is 33—they truly value their friendship. In Elizabeth’s vows to Michael during their recent intimate courthouse wedding, where their parents and mothers served as witnesses on their marriage license, Elizabeth said, “Our friendship is our home base. It’s where we started, where we’ll end, and it’s everything in between.” Elizabeth feels incredibly lucky and blessed to get to spend her life with her best friend.

Taylor + Nicholas

It was the Summer of 2020 at the start of Covid, and they were in college but 200 miles apart. The Covid mandate became effective, making them both go back home, which was barely in range for Tinder. They swiped right, got ice cream, had a car date, and the rest is history! Two years of medium distance and seeing each other on the weekends to moving in together in 2022 after graduating! Engaged August 31st, 2024, and now they are planning our forever.

Haley + Jacob

Haley and Jacob met in 2017 right before college. Jacob’s uncle was Haley’s trainer for soccer and introduced them. The two initially thought it would be a summer fling, since Jacob was going to school in Vermont and Haley was attending Grand View in Des Moines. They decided to make it work and eventually, Jacob transferred to Grand View. They both played soccer at Grand View and loved supporting one another. They still love to play soccer on their Co-Ed team together, which can be interesting at times! 7 and ½ years later, the two are still always laughing together and are truly the best of friends! They cannot wait to get married in September this year, surrounded by all of our family and friends!

Mia + Matthew

Matthew and Mia met at Salt Company, a college ministry in Ankeny, Iowa. After Salt one night, he mustered the courage to approach her, hoping to get her number. Unfortunately, their one-on-one conversation quickly turned into a group discussion. To change his approach, Matthew decided to hang out with mutual friends to spend more time with Mia. Throughout the summer, they spent a lot of time together in group hangouts. Matthew asked Mia out for coffee, but he did not buy her drink or clarify if it was a date or not, leading to Mia placing Matthew in the friend zone. After a couple of weeks, Mia began to reconsider her choice as she observed more of Matthew’s character and recognized his love for Jesus. Matthew persistently pursued Mia and eventually asked her out to dinner, which she accepted. Their first date went well, leading to many more. By the fourth date, they officially became a couple! However, after dating for about four months, they decided to take a six-month break. The two rekindled their relationship in July 2023, with God at the center, and on November 9, 2024, Matthew and Mia got engaged! They are so excited to enter the covenant of marriage and live their lives together on mission for Jesus.

Brooke + Kyle

Kyle and Brooke met when Kyle started working as a behavioral health technician for Balance Autism in Davenport in 2021. Brooke was the administrative office manager, so she was able to get to know him from a coworker standpoint. Throughout his year of work, Brooke grew to enjoy chatting with him in group settings. In the new year of 2022, Brooke asked if anyone would be willing to help me move into her first house. Kyle was the only volunteer and it was because he had a crush. 🫶🏻 As a thank you for his help, Brooke + Kyle went out for drinks with some other friends that they found out they had in common. From then on, they grew to liking each other as more than coworkers and by June, Kyle asked Brooke to be his girlfriend. It was an easy yes! They spent 2 1/2 years dating long distance as Kyle started medical school that fall and Brooke have remained living and working in the Quad Cities. This past Christmas, the couple went on a family trip with Kyle’s family and on 12/23 he asked her to marry him. It was the next easiest yes! He’s now a third year medical student with 1 year left before they find out where life will take them for his residency. They are so excited for the rest of their lives together but would absolutely love a fun date night celebrating just the two of them ❤️.

Mason + Eve

Mason and Eve’s love story feels like something from a Hallmark movie. Though they knew of each other, they went to rival high schools and never spoke. Looking back, it’s hard to believe how close they were all those years without ever connecting. It wasn’t until Eve’s junior year of college that fate decided it was time. Out of the blue, Mason randomly snapped her one day, and that single message changed everything.

They hit it off immediately, as though they had been waiting to find each other all along. They went to dinner and a movie for their first date, where Mason held Eve’s hand. That night, they shared their first kiss. Being with him felt so natural, like they’d known each other forever. Mason and Eve always say they’re old souls.

Shortly after Eve returned from a trip to Chicago, Mason asked her to be his girlfriend. He couldn’t wait to tell her he loved her and did the next day. Neither of them had ever been in love before, and every moment over the next two years together was filled with love, laughter, and a deep sense of comfort. Saturdays quickly became their favorite day, a cherished tradition of relaxing together and watching movies.

One night, he took Eve to the movies, their favorite kind of date. As the previews started, instead of a trailer, a personalized slideshow of their memories appeared on the screen, accompanied by their song. It felt like watching their love story unfold. At the end of the video, “Eve, will you marry me?” appeared on the screen. When Eve turned around, crying, she saw Mason on one knee.

When she said yes, she thought the surprises were over. But of course, their families had more planned. Both families were waiting outside, ready to celebrate. Mason and Eve couldn’t be more excited for all the chapters of their story still to come.

Cami + Peter

Be sure to vote on Wed Society Iowa’s Instagram stories every day from Tuesday, February 11th – Friday, February 14th and cheer on your favorite couple!