Sixty miles and a river spanned between them in the rural South Dakota countryside where she was more accustomed to encountering cattle than potential suitors.

Granted, the cattle were a given in her life due to the veterinary work that had brought her all the way from Kentucky. She'd expected them, not to mention the minus-30-degree winter days that required wearing seven layers – and simply wearing out, period.

What she hadn't expected in the midst of these stretching circumstances was to meet someone who'd be willing to follow her when she insisted she needed to settle somewhere farther south. And on his part: He hadn't expected to meet someone who'd make him willing to leave his roots. But what Brittany Chaney and Marcus Bartlett both found, in finding each other, was that the unexpected can be undeniably right.

That finding came about somewhat by accident, after one of Brittany’s co-workers convinced her on September 13, 2014 to go bar-hopping on the other side of the Missouri river, which cuts South Dakota in two. They traveled about an hour from their town of Mobridge and eventually made their way to Sparky’s Bar and Grill in Isabel — which Brittany of course couldn’t have known was the hometown of her future husband.

Meanwhile, Marcus couldn’t have known that the Snapchats his friend was exchanging with one of the girls in Brittany’s group were about to bring about his introduction to his future bride. But that’s exactly what happened after the two of them made plans to meet the women at Sparky’s.

After leaving the bar later that night, the whole group headed to Marcus’ house. Perhaps because he felt a home-court advantage (or perhaps because he was a little intoxicated) he attempted to make out with Brittany — and although he failed on this front, he did succeed in getting her phone number instead.

Brittany + Marcus

- an unlikely meeting leads to marriage -

By Erin Wisdom-Watson

What Brittany Chaney and Marcus Bartlett both found, in finding each other, was that
the unexpected can be undeniably right.

Five days later, on September 18, they had their first date. Marcus conveniently needed to make a trip to Mobridge for a repair on his truck, and while in town he picked Brittany up at her clinic and took her to lunch.

They went to a restaurant called Rick’s and were both nervous. It may not have helped that they initially didn’t seem to have a lot in common, with them coming from different religious backgrounds and him being a diehard sports fan, while she wasn’t. 

But something clicked, anyway — and after continuing to see each other casually, Marcus made a big move the next month by inviting Brittany on a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, his company was providing the following January.

Kicking off 2015 with this vacation was a milestone not only because it was their first time traveling together but also because it was their first time spending a whole week together, period. The distance between them at home made it difficult to see each other more often than on weekends — but fortunately, their relationship passed the test of day-to-day interaction that came with this trip.

Of course, their experience wasn’t exactly filled with typical day-to-day activities, since opportunities for parasailing and whale-watching are sparse in South Dakota. They also ate more Mexican food than usual and took a nighttime walk on the beach — which in addition to being out of the norm for them was also unadvised, but they survived it with a story to tell.

Although Marcus hadn’t asked Brittany to be his girlfriend, a week in Mexico certainly sufficed for clarifying their relationship status. And later that year, after Brittany decided she needed a job and a climate that was less physically demanding, they began looking to make another big trip together.

This one, of course, would be more permanent than a vacation. They picked the Kansas City area as a halfway point between her roots and his, and after each finding a job there, they made the move in February 2016.

This step spoke to their seriousness about each other, especially in Marcus’ willingness to leave friends and family to move to a place where he was familiar with nothing but her and the Missouri River. Thus, it makes sense that they had a mutual understanding marriage was in their future — and after about six months in Kansas City, he made another move that made it more reality than eventuality.

That August 28, 2016, they were having a quiet Sunday at home. This followed a night on the town they’d had the previous evening, during which Marcus carried an engagement ring in his pocket but was deterred by the crowds at the Plaza from actually popping the question. 

Instead, he picked a moment when it was just the two of them on their couch. And although Brittany was asleep, he sensed this was an opportune time for a proposal since they’d soon be traveling back to South Dakota and seeing people who’d undoubtedly want to celebrate their engagement and see the ring that came with it.

Thus, after asking if she was going to wake up and come cuddle with him, Marcus handed Brittany the ring box. Her response was laughter — a few minutes of it — that came from her surprise not only that this was the form his proposal took but also that he was proposing at all, since it had been a while since they’d looked at rings, and receiving one hadn’t been on her mind recently.

But finally, her laughter subsided enough for her to say yes. And soon, they set a wedding date of May 13, 2017 (which, given that they met on September 13, has solidified the number as Brittany’s favorite). They’ll tie the knot on that day in a rustic, vintage-themed event at Riverfront Community Center in Leavenworth, Kansas. 

Given how far they are from both of their families, it will be especially significant to have all their loved ones together, celebrating with them. They look forward to this and, of course, to their married life that will follow — which they hope will include buying a house with some land and starting a family soon.

They also plan for a future that includes more of their favorite things, like gun ranges, concerts, Kansas City barbecue and, of course, each other.

Despite Brittany’s initial impression following their first date that they didn’t have enough in common for a lasting relationship, they have in fact found common ground, as well as benefits to their differences. 

He’s able to calm her in her high-strung moments, for example, and she’s able to balance his tendency to be a doer with hers to be a planner. And they’ve learned, too, to take an interest in each other’s interests, as well as to appreciate each other’s strengths.

“He’s a very hard worker,” Brittany notes. “And he always goes an extra mile in thoughtfulness.”

On his part, Marcus appreciates that she also has a strong work ethic and caring nature. And given that they’re similarly strong-willed and stubborn, they’ll undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with when they face life together.

“We both have a drive to succeed and aren’t satisfied with the status quo,” he says. “We try to make each other better.”

What Brittany Chaney and Marcus Bartlett both found, in finding each other, was that the unexpected can be undeniably right.