Our first date took place January 5, 2019. Michael was in his first year of medical school and I was still in college at Webster University. Fresh off a plane from Tampa, Michael met me at the Benevolent King, a restaurant in Maplewood (St. Louis). We hit it off and couldn't stop talking about a little bit of everything. We went to five other bars that night, just hanging out and talking until I finally went home. Four years later and we still can't stop talking.

Michael popped the question at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond in Chicago. It's a beautiful little pond tucked away from the rest of Lincoln Park full of water lilies. My friend Ingrid was in town and as we were casually walking around Lincoln Park, when she led me to the pond under the guise of sightseeing. I didn't think anything of it, but all of the sudden Michael was sitting there waiting for me. He proposed, and our family and friends popped out of the bushes to celebrate with us. Even more friends were waiting back at our apartment to continue the celebration at our engagement party. It was truly the perfect day!