August 2011 - May 2019
Tim attends Edgewood University (formerly Edgewood College) in Madison, Wisconsin and graduates with both a B.S. in Clinical Counseling Psychology (2015), and a M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy (2019).
​
During his 4.5 years in undergrad, Tim runs cross country, indoor and outdoor track. Running long distance events in track. During his Junior and Senior years, he also engages in human service trips through the Schools of Psychology and Nursing to Cambodia.
September 2014 - May 2018
Mel attends college in San Francisco at San Francisco State University. She spends her time exploring the city, working a variety of jobs and spends 2 years as a Resident Assistant.
She graduates with a B.S. in Visual Communication Design. (She also spends a semester studying abroad in Melbourne, Australia in 2017 and may have some of her Aussie friends in attendance at the wedding!)
October 2020
Mel moves to Austin with her best friend and bridesmaid, Joy Goldschmidt, amidst the ongoing global Covid pandemic in an effort for a fresh start on adult life and hopefully to find a creative job in an artsy city.
May 2022
Having lived in Wisconsin his whole life, Tim takes the opportunity to move to Austin, Texas with a previous partner. During this time, he falls in love with the city, develops a close community of friends, and eventually meets the love of his life playing in a recreational kickball league.
First meal in Austin!
Mel and Joy's new rental home!
January 25th, 1996
Melissa Herold is born in San Diego, California to Gerilyn and Pete Herold.
1996 - 2014, California
Mel grows up in San Diego, California and spends her time swimming in the ocean and playing at the beach, being a Girl Scout, playing soccer and tennis, going on family bike rides around Mission Bay, camping, traveling up and down the California coast and enjoying being outside year-round in the SoCal climate.
June 7th, 1993
Timothy Abendroth is born in Berlin, Wisconsin to Stephanie and Dean Abendroth.
1993 - 2011, Wisconsin
Tim grows up in Markesan, Wisconsin spending his time running cross country, playing saxophone in various bands throughout school, deer hunting, snowmobiling, playing pool against his brother Ryan in their basement, and of course attending Green Bay Packers football games and Milwaukee Brewers baseball games with his family and friends.
April 2023
Mel joins "Sons of Pitches", a recreational kickball team with her group of friends. Tim also joins the team, invited by Mel's mutual friends David Holmes and Tyler Wilson.
Mel misses the first game of the season and misses the team photo :(
Some of our kickball teammates are in our wedding party!
April - May 2023
Mel & Tim get to know each other through playing outfield together at their weekly kickball games, group social events and post-kickball game drinks with the team (but always secretly wanting to sit next to each other).
May 21st, 2023
A group paddle board session on the river turns into a solo hangout after everyone else bails last minute. Mel and Tim are both nervous but excited to hang out alone for the very first time. They spend hours floating on their paddleboards and talking about everything under the sun.
A text message from June 1st, 2023
May - June 2023
Tim asks for Mel's number at a friend's birthday party in late May. She happily gives it to him and they proceed to stay up texting until 1am every single night for 3 weeks straight (they were both so tired lol).
June 8th, 2023
After weeks of talking non-stop, Mel texts Tim to ask if he wants to join her for a quick dinner at Sweet Green before their volleyball games. Tim had JUST finished eating dinner at home, but said yes and joined her anyway. They ate, played their games, and met up at Barton Springs pool after for a night-swim. This would later come to be known as their first "official/unofficial date."
Mel took this waiting for Tim
June 17th, 2023
On the way out the door to an Emo Night concert with Mel's friends, she asks Tim if she can introduce him as her boyfriend. The following conversation then happens:
Tim: "Are you asking me out, Mel?"
Mel: "Yes, is that chill?"
Tim: "Yeah that would be great :)"
June 17th 2023 - November 1st, 2024
Mel and Tim continue to date and fall deeper in love. Their favorite things to do together include traveling, playing sand and grass volleyball, paddle boarding on the river, spending summer days and nights swimming at Barton Springs Pool, enjoying concerts and live music, riding their bikes around Town Lake, and enjoying Austin's vibrant nightlife and many outdoor spaces with their friends.
They also love spending time at home laughing, relaxing, watching movies, and cuddling with their beloved orange tabby cat, Theo.
November 2nd, 2024
After many excited conversations about their future and agreeing that marriage was a “when,” not an “if,” Mel suggested touring a stunning Austin wedding venue to lock it in early (because those precious good-weather dates disappear fast). What Mel didn’t know was that Tim already had the ring and had originally planned to propose in April 2025. Sensing the perfect moment, he secretly teamed up with the venue owner and turned their Saturday morning venue tour into something much more magical—surprising Mel with a proposal right there, on the spot.
​
After their official tour, they were told to walk the grounds on their own and explore. While they were standing at the altar discussing their future wedding excitement and plans, Tim got down on one knee and asked Mel to marry him. She was absolutely shocked in the best way, and said "yes of course" (after some expletives and surprised stuttering).
November 4th, 2024
Mel and Tim book their dream wedding venue, the same one where they got engaged, and begin planning for their big day on April 4th, 2026!
April 4th, 2026 | WEDDING DAY!
Mel and Tim say "I Do!" surrounded by their favorite people and start their forever together as Mr. and Mrs. Abendroth!
