We matched on Hinge and quickly discovered that we grew up in the same town, Park Ridge, but had never crossed paths. After exchanging messages for a few days, we had our first date at Eris Brewery and Cider House. Joe was visibly nervous, but Josie was relaxed after seeing Joe in person for the first time. The conversation was easy and we discovered more similarities in our passion for our respective music tastes, love of food, and our close knit families. We shared cheese curds and mac&cheese to compliment our ciders and never ran out of things to talk about. After our first date, both of us deleted Hinge and set out to see where this could go. It has taken us on a road trip to a documentary film festival in Missouri, family and friends' weddings in Italy and Colorado, family vacations in Costa Rica and Mexico, a work conference in Florida where Joe said "I love you" first, and many other local spots to share more cheese filled appetizers. We are both excited to start our lives together and continue to grow, learn, travel, and eat great food. We can't wait to celebrate our wedding with all of you!

Throughout our dating history, Joe would leave doodles on Post-It notes around Josie's condo. They would be anything from a heart to puns about events that happened the night before. Joe planned to continue that tradition by spelling out "Marry Me?" with brand new doodles on Post-It notes. After a slight scare that Josie had an emergency add on case for work, Joe invited Josie to his apartment before dinner reservations. Joe quickly ran inside, grabbed the ring box and knelt down on one knee while Josie repeated "oh my gosh, it's happening". Neither of us remember what was said, but we remember the feeling of overflowing love and excitement for the future. Both of us sat on the floor and went through each Post-It Note (62 of them!) before Joe put the ring on.