OUR STORY - Witte Hall to Wilmette Our story began in Witte Hall at UW-Madison on a fun night out with our floormates early during our freshman year. We will save you the details, but suffice it to say, the night involved a healthy amount of Admiral Nelson, Avicii and Ian’s Pizza. Eleven years later, we’ve been by each other’s side for many of life’s firsts and milestones: college finals and picking majors, travelling abroad, finding apartments, starting careers, moving states, adding a dog to our family (@marvelous_ms_maize) and buying our home in Wilmette. We’ve grown up together during the journey that has taken us from Madison to Chicago to NYC and back to Chicago again. Upon the Pandemic, we upended our lives for 8 months, leaving New York for our friends’ home in North Carolina and then to both Kate’s then Jared’s parents’ homes. Approaching 30 and living with our parents and in-laws taught us a lot about family, love and patience! After 2020, we knew that we could take-on anything life threw at us as partners. OUR ENGAGEMENT On May 1, 2021, the first warm day of Spring, Jared asked Kate if she wanted to ride their beloved hand-me-down tandem bike to the Botanical Gardens. At the Gardens, the duo walked along enjoying beers and spring flowers and Jared suggested they check out a roped-off and private hilltop garden. When it was just the two of them, he got down on one knee. The couple descended the hilltop smiling, a little teary and engaged! OUR WEDDING We are beyond excited to be married and hope that you can join and celebrate with us! Love, Kate & Jared