We're tying the knot!

After both Jared and Alana went through terrible break-ups, they decided to join the rest of the millenial crowd and take a pick at the virtual world. Alana’s game plan was simple: he HAS to be funny; Jared didn’t have a game plan. After about five minutes, and several screenshots to her friends, Alana saw Jared, and of course saw that he was a handsome man who loved animals (he was holding a baby lamb in Ireland) and she was hooked already. Jared asked if they should skip the small talk and get tacos and margaritas and also threw in a corny pick up line - how perfect. About a week later, on May 22, 2018, Jared came to meet and pick up Alana and to his surprise meet her parents too. After tacos, Jared and Alana went to see Oceans 8 and Alana learned it was nothing about marine life. Several months later, at one of Alana’s favorite restaurants, Jared told Alana he loved her. Alana quickly replied “I love you too,” and the rest was history. Jared was there through Alana’s last few semesters of nursing school, her internship, through graduation, and of course the NCLEX. Alana knew Jared was the one when he was waiting by the door everyday with coffee or wine and ready to talk about how crazy the shift was and help decompress. Jared knew Alana was the one when she looked up at him one afternoon while he was cutting the grass and she smiled. Togeher, the two have traveled to many states, endured a year of hardship, adopted a dog, laughed a lot, learned a lot, loved a lot, and built a life they both would like to live.

Alana's best friend Caitlin was moving to Iowa for her pharmacy residency program, and the two of them decided it would be fun to do a girls weekend downtown Chicago. There was delicious Italian dinner reservations, rooftop drinks, spa date, and then boozy brunch with bottomless mimosas planned. Saturday May 15, Caitlin and Alana arrived at their brunch location only to find out their reservation was given away to someone else... Caitlin was frantically texting Jared about what to do next (she was in on the plan). They decided on Terrace 16 at Trump Tower for brunch and mimosas. Once they sat down at the table, Jared came out, tapped Alana on the shoulder and asked if he could join for brunch. Alana was speechless. Jared then knelt down on one knee and asked Alana for her hand in marriage. Alana said yes, and the whole restaurant was cheering and clapping for them. Then to much of Alana's surprise, the "Mother's Day, birthday, graduation party" they had to attend at the Sweeney's house was a surprise engagement party for the two of them with friends and family from near and far.