Live Long and Prosper: This Ferndale Couple is 'In This Together, Forever'

Ferndale has its fair share of lovebirds, so we decided to check in with a few of them before Valentine's Day and ask them to share relationship and date night secrets.

Today, we take a closer look at what makes Ferndale residents Jennifer and Brian Louwers so sweet.

How long have you been together?

"We met in 2002 and got married in 2004. We dated for a year, lived together for a year and then got married on a big farm in Virginia two days after we bought our home."

What’s the secret to a successful and happy relationship?

"We honestly enjoy spending time together. You could probably say we're nerdy, and we appreciate little things about each other that people might not get. (Did we mention our wedding music was set to Star Trek: The Next Generation's 'The Inner Light'?) We just took a master gardening class together. We also have a tag-team approach to parenting where one of us takes over before the other goes down to the mat in a heap of frustration. It works, but it's still pandemonium. And we're never allowed to say the "D" word (divorce) in our house. Never. We're in this together, forever."

What famous couple would you compare yourselves to?

"Keeping with the Star Trek theme, we'll say Kirk and Spock. Who's which?  We're not saying."

Why did you settle in Ferndale, and how long have you lived here?

"We like the location. It's close to downtown Detroit and the freeways are accessible. We also like the fact that it has a history -- our house was built in 1911 or something -- but that the city is eclectic and socially-progressive."

What’s your favorite romantic night out in Ferndale and why?

"We like One-Eyed Betty's. Jenny will have a Belgian Tripel. Brian will have an American IPA. And we'll both have the crispy Brussels sprouts. They're the best."