Introducing Your 2026 Looks of Love Winners
Drumroll, please…
We’re beyond excited to officially announce Maria & Bryson as the winners of our 2026 Looks of Love Contest! Over the past three days, the Iowa community showed up in the best way, rallying behind their favorite love stories and making this such a fun and meaningful celebration of real couples and real connection.
Maria + Bryson will enjoy a one-night stay at Elm & Hearth, a wellness cabin in Ames, IA, with lavish accommodations for up to 6 guests, hot tub, and a suana onsite. To every couple who shared their story with us, thank you. It is truly an honor to spotlight your love and the joy that surrounds this season of life. We are so grateful for a community that shows up, supports one another, and celebrates big.
Here’s to love, connection, and the sweetest kind of competition 💛
The Top 8
Meet the top 8 couples of our annual Looks of Love contest! 🤍 Voting is officially open now on our Instagram Stories, with the winner announced on Valentine’s Day, February 14. The lucky winning couple will win a one-night stay at the stunning Elm & Hearth in Ames, IA.
Read on to get an inside look at the love stories behind each couple, then head to our Instagram stories @wedsociety.iowa to vote for your favorite!
Aashka & Aaron
Photo: A.West Photography & Design
Aashka and Aaron met in August 2021 through Bumble, where a few simple messages about hobbies and travel quickly turned into late-night conversations filled with laughter, vulnerability, and dreams for the future. Even while living in different states — Aashka was in Illinois and Aaron was in Iowa — Aashka shared that their connection felt steady and familiar, as if it was always meant to find them. Aashka shared, “When I moved back to Des Moines and we finally met in person, the comfort and ease between us was immediate, like coming home.”
From weekends spent driving between Pella and Des Moines to meeting each other’s friends and families, their love grew naturally and intentionally. Four years later, after moving in together in September 2023 and building a life full of shared traditions and adventures, Aaron proposed at Gray’s Lake — one of the couple’s favorite spots in Des Moines — surrounded by thoughtful surprises and the people closest to our hearts! Now, as they plan their wedding for this September, they are filled with excitement for the beautiful chapters still ahead!
Emerson & Milan
Photo: Justin Meyer
Milan and Emerson don’t quite remember the first time they met – but that’s because they truly can’t remember a time when we they didn’t know the other person existed. From as early as Emerson can remember, Milan was one of her cousin’s best friends, and she was just Milan’s best friend’s little cousin. But a few years ago, after a little growing up and a few more life experiences, everything changed. The two started seeing each other and never stopped. They were instantly each other’s favorite person.
Emerson shared, “Together, we have this little life of pretending we are going to have a successful garden with all the weeds pulled. Acting like we will completely and totally finish a 2,000 piece puzzle without a single missing piece. And wondering how boring life would be if the handle never came off the oven door. Together we are building an ordinary life that’s extraordinary together.”
Katelyn & Grant
Photo: Kyndal Elise Photography
Katelyn + Grant’s love story started out as old-fashioned as it gets – on Hinge. Grant commented on the Iowa State shirt Katelyn wore in her photo and now they go to eveery Iowa State game together! It didn’t take the two very long to realize they shared the same values, interests and sense of humor. After a year of dating, Grant caught Katelyn by a huge surprise and proposed during a trip to Boston. Katelyn shared, “At the risk of sounding cheesy, we both feel so lucky to be in a relationship that makes us feel safe, loved, and understood. We are so excited to get married this year!”
Maria & Bryson
Ann & Michael
Michael and Ann had been friends for about 2 years before they started dating. Michael finally asked Ann to go on a date, and she said…no. This left things awkward to say the least, with little to no communication.
A few weeks went by and Ann realized she missed talking to him, so she decided to give it a shot. The two went on their first date, but wanted to pick a spot where they wouldn’t run into people they knew so that they could get to know one another more with less distractions (or so they thought). Ann shared, “Michael went to the bathroom, and I was looking down when I heard him say, ‘Mom?! What are you doing here?!’ So, I met his mom on our first date, which we still laugh about today. Looking back at our early days of dating, I am so grateful that we were friends before we were in a relationship. It allowed us to build trust and learn so much more about one another. I truly felt like myself around him. Now, I am grateful that he is not only my friend, but my best friend.”
Seanna & Brandon
Photo: Oak & Ivory Photography
In a generation where most people meet online through dating apps or social media followings – Seanna and Brandon met completely by chance! From the moment they met, they instantly became best friends. Seanna shared, “I don’t quite think Brandon was ready for someone to not only be able to handle his sarcasm and humor but also give it back to him.” The night they met, they talked for hours just laughing back and forth. There was never a quiet moment between the two. “That is quite honestly my favorite part of it all, we’ve always been best friends from the moment we met. And now, 3 years later- I get to marry the love of my life and my best friend!”
Christina & Jarett
Jarett and Christina met through mutual friends eight years ago in Iowa City. What started as a friendship slowly grew into something more, and they officially began dating on December 7th, 2020. Shortly after, life took them in different directions. Christina to Des Moines and Jarett to Cedar Falls, beginning 3.5 years of long distance but that only strengthened their relationship. Christina shared, “No matter the miles between us, we built a relationship rooted in trust, laughter, and choosing each other every single day.”
In the summer of 2024, they finally closed the distance and moved in together in Ankeny. In October 2025, during a couples trip to Punta Cana, Jarett proposed, turning one of their favorite adventures into the start of forever! They’re so excited to celebrate their marriage this September!
Lydia & Colton
Photo: Whitney Long
Lydia + Colton met in college, and little did they know what life had in store for them and the plans God had. Life pulled them apart briefly, but Lydia took a leap of faith and moved to Chicago to keep them close. After spending time together in Chicago, Lydia shared, “I knew in my heart that with him is exactly where I was meant to be. From the moment we reconnected, it was clear that this was it and our story could end no other way but together.”
Five years later, after moving from Chicago back to Lydia’s hometown and growing together with each new adventure, the two are still very much in love. They are best friends and soulmates, sharing the same goals, and enjoying the same things. “We support each other through everything. We are grateful for all the fun we have together, all the laughter we share, the adventures we chase, and all the quiet times in between. We are best friends, and no matter what life throws at us, we will always have each other.”
Vote Now!
Congratulations to our Top 8! Now we know it’s hard to choose…but these couples need YOUR vote! Head over to Instagram to vote via the polls on our stories. <3
