We first met in a 2D Animation class at North Central College taught by Professor Valentine. How he remembers it: I remember walking into the classroom and seeing her sitting with an open seat to her right. I thought she was so pretty and looked like she would be good at art, so I didn't want to bother the prettiest and most talented girl in the room. After I luckily got reassigned to sit next to her when my computer failed, I learned that she was really smart along with her other talents. We also had a lot in common, but I didn't want to annoy her by talking too much so I tried to limit myself to only 2 conversations with her an hour. I had no idea she thought I hated her, I would have talked more. How she remembers it: We actually didn't even sit next to each other at the beginning of the semester. His computer got the dreaded blue screen so ended up taking the free one next to me. Then he wouldn't really talk to me when I'd try to strike up conversations. So I thought he hated me😭 Now we're getting married!

He proposed at Mt. St. Mary park on my birthday after what I can only describe as a perfect brunch date. How he remembers it: On December 19th, I laid in bed and decided that on May 15th, I would get my friends Carter and Peter to hide around St. Mary's park to take pictures and video of me while I proposed to her. I even asked her father for permission. We started with a breakfast date to the first place I took her on our official date, followed by the park where I proposed to her under the pergola. I was so happy it went off perfectly! How she remembers it: I was told prior that we'd be going to my favorite brunch place in St. Charles for my birthday. Afterwards we decided to walk-off the meal at Mount St. Mary's Park, where we walked all the time when I'd visit Evan. I had no idea he'd propose to me right by the fox river, under the pergola. I also had no idea he had our friends hiding to take pictures of the engagement. Best birthday I've ever had.