Ethan and Madeline’s journey began in August 2017 during their freshman year at LSU, where they were introduced by Madeline’s best friend and Ethan’s new pledge brother, Matthew Weems. From that point forward, they became best friends and were truly two peas in a pod. Both Ethan and Madeline started out as Biology majors, so they were often in the same classes and frequently studied together. Outside of school, they attended every LSU home game tailgate together, one of which Ethan asked Madeline to be his “game-day date.” For Ethan’s freshman Kappa Sigma semi-formal, they each brought their best friends as dates: Ethan brought Mary Kyle Allen and Madeline went with Jonathan Murphy. Later during their freshman year, Ethan brought his best friend Madeline to both his LSU Lacrosse Banquet and his Kappa Sig "Bahama Mama" event. Through it all, they built a genuine friendship and always knew they could count on each other, during both the good and the bad times

As their bond grew, Ethan and Madeline spent more time together, with memorable summer trips to Ethan’s family Orange Beach condo and his lake house on Lake Claiborne. By the end of their sophomore year, their feelings for one another were undeniable, and by November 8th, 2019 - during their junior year at LSU and just two days before Madeline’s 21st birthday - the couple made it “official”.

In February 2020, Ethan welcomed another special girl into his life: Palmer, their 20-pound, chocolate Austrailian labradoodle. Despite the challenges of the COVID pandemic, Madeline and Ethan’s relationship remained strong. They graduated from LSU in 2021—Madeline with a degree in Biological Sciences and Ethan in ISDS (Information Systems and Decision Sciences)—and began new chapters, with Madeline preparing for Physician Assistant school and Ethan for dental school.

In 2022, their journey took them to different cities—Ethan to Shreveport and Madeline to Monroe. At the beginning of 2023, Madeline started PA school at FranU in Baton Rouge, and their love endured even through a four-hour commute. In 2024, Ethan was accepted to dental school at KCU in Joplin, Missouri, and their relationship faced the challenge of a ten-hour distance. Yet, their love continued to grow stronger, culminating in Ethan’s proposal on January 18th, 2025, in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.

After a busy spring of wedding planning, Ethan's completion of his first year in dental school, and Madeline’s Physician Assistant graduation, Ethan, Madeline, and Palmer moved into their first home together in Joplin. They cannot wait to continue their story and begin their new lives as the future Stansell family!