The couple shares their love of banking and their love of each other, while discussing the perks of marrying your best friend.

What was your first date?

Lauren: Our first official date was a Chris Stapleton concert — Sarah surprised me with tickets. I feel like we had plenty of unofficial dates before the concert, though. We were gym buddies and would hit up our favorite Mexican restaurant after the gym. Some of the conversations we had over margaritas in those early days inspired our vows.

Sarah: I was super nervous, and I was positive that I had made a total fool of myself. I didn’t really know [Stapleton], but she loved him. I spent the week before bingeing on Spotify to learn all of the songs.  

How did you meet?

S:  Lauren and I met while working for Central Bank of Boone County. We were friends while working in different departments for several years.

What keeps you busy during the week?

S: With running ProsperU, my days are rarely 9 to 5.  I take appointments early in the morning and have classes late at night, so every week is an adventure. I’m very involved in the local and state slow-pitch softball community, so you can find us at the ballpark almost every weekend (rain, heat, or cold). 

What’s it like to work together? 

S: It’s funny — we work together but hardly ever interact or see each other because of the nature of our work days. We try to carve out a few minutes each day to touch base, but generally it’s a wave through the window or a quick text to see how she’s doing.

What do you like to do in your free time?

S: When we’re not at the ball field, almost all of our free time is spent with our noses stuck in books. Much to Lauren’s chagrin, I’m also a big nerd (video games, board games, graphic novels). Lauren loves cooking, and I am always a willing taste-tester for most of her creations.

What is your favorite art/culture activity in Columbia?

We both love True/False Film Fest. 

What is the key to a lasting and healthy relationship?

L: Communication and lots of laughter! 

What does the future hold for the two of you?

S: I’m clearly horrible at predicting the future, but that reminds me of a favorite quote — “I don’t know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future.” 

What is your favorite restaurant in Columbia?

L: Hands down, Rio Grande!

What has been your favorite project to work on together?

L: Making our house a home for us both. When I moved in, it was the perfect definition of a bachelor pad — very beige and nothing on the walls! It’s been a fun labor of love to find our style.

S: In March of 2019, I became the director of Central Bank of Boone County’s ProsperU initiative.  Lauren has helped me with late night brainstorming sessions, honest feedback for my crazy ideas, and making sure that I step back and enjoy the process.

What is the best quality of your partner?

S: We always joke that Lauren’s so tenderhearted. She wears her heart on her sleeve and loves deeply. Whether it’s adopting a stray animal or crying over another houseplant she’s managed to kill, you always know that Lauren cares. 

L: Sarah’s passion. Whatever Sarah does, she will do with immense passion and is incapable of not giving it her all.