Luke opened up a restaurant, Ignoble Wine Bar in the summer of 2017. It was a lovely restaurant, intimate, wonderful wines, delicious menu. That summer, a mutual friend, Frank Feger, brought Ember into Ignoble as a third wheel for date night, as she often was with Frank and Alice. Luke noticed something big about Ember he couldn't quite get out of his head and Ember was instantly smitten. It may have had something to do with him serenading the small group after hours at the bar. But, to appear nonchalant Ember visited the restaurant only sporadically. On the third visit in mid October sparks flew, and Frank noticed. He texted Luke Ember's number later that night. Two nights later, on October 16th, they went on their first date and the rest is history.

Ember knew that the engagement was coming, since we're adults and can discuss such things, but I still wanted this to be a surprising night for her. I quickly got ready for our date. Ember looked beautiful, as always, and I threw on my favorite sport coat over my slacks and a nice shirt. I wouldn't tell her where we were going but I made my way towards my old restaurant. We stepped inside my old place for the first time since I had to close my doors. It was emotional for both of us, but it was where we met, and where we solidified our strength as a couple through the ridiculous stress that was my life at the time. The waiter asked where we'd like to sit, I pointed to the booth we sat in that last night she came in before our first date. We drank a couple margaritas and then quickly left. We went to our first apartment together and I walked her across the street to Big Chicks where we had shared many date nights, always paired with their Monday night $1 burger special. We drank, sat and talked about memories from our old neighborhood. I abruptly told her we were done there and we got back in the car. We made our way downtown to one of the chic new rooftop restaurants in South Loop. I had everything set up with the team there, everyone knew we were celebrating a special night. We had champagne sent over when we sat down, the manager let slip that he was all prepared for the night and after the meal, we were treated to a private viewing of downtown on one of the outdoor decks, but still nothing happened there. Afterwards I took her back to our apartment. Ember wanted me to let the dogs out, and I grumbled a little bit and got her to do it instead. As she opened the back door, she saw a sign strung up which said "Marry Me" and as she walked out, she then saw my parents, her parents and also her sister Abi and her fiancé, Alex. We then had ample surprise and ample witnesses to record me getting on my knee and asking my already partner to make it official.