Nick and Annie met while students at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana (I-L-L). He was a senior, she a junior. Their first date was coffee at Cafe Bene on Green Street where they had easy conversation, lots of laughs, and the kind of getting-to-know-you chat that felt effortless. Before the espresso cooled, Nick had already asked Annie on a second date, to which she obviously said yes! That first month felt like they’d known each other for years— endless laughs, spontaneous adventures, and a natural ease of being together. A few weeks in, Nick nervously asked Annie to be his girlfriend while they were studying. Annie surprised him with a gentle “not yet.” She knew she wanted exclusivity but wanted the moment to feel right. Nick waited and chose the next best time: on October 27, 2018 while riding a Champaign-Urbana MTD bus from one Halloween party to the next. Somehow it felt perfect, and Annie said yes. Since then they’ve shared so much: Nick’s college graduation and start as a civil engineer; Annie’s virtual graduation during COVID— complete with making the front page of the Chicago Sun-Times together; moving to Chicago; Nick training for and completing the Chicago marathon; countless trips around the US and abroad; and Annie finishing optometry school and beginning her career as an eye doctor. The most unforgettable moment, however, came on a quiet, rainy fall morning in New York City during one of Annie’s fourth-year clinical rotations, when Nick proposed while they were on a walk through Central Park. And now, here we are planning the day we say "I do!" Many of you know they met in college; fewer know the invisible strings that connected them long before that. Nick’s great-grandma was once a loyal client of Annie’s grandmother’s Chicago beauty salon (and even babysat young Annie and her sister Katie while their grandma was out running errands), Nick’s mom and Annie’s dad grew up in the same southwest-side Chicago neighborhood, and Annie’s dad and Nick’s aunt worked together at the old Egg Store. Sometimes those invisible strings are real... and very strong. We are deeply grateful to our family and friends for your love and support throughout our time together. We can’t wait to celebrate this joyous day with you!