John and Emily (technically) met at Fullerton Beach in Chicago in June of 2019 while playing beach volleyball with some mutual friends. Whether it was the fact that they were hidden behind sunglasses & baseball hats or the fact that both could easily be distracted by their competitive spirits, it would take approximately three weeks of dating to remember this encounter & to realize they have already been running in similar circles of friends - proving that Chicago is truly just a big small town. Fast-Forward John & Emily matched on Hinge in July of 2019. A few days later they went on our first date at Barcocina in Lakeview, Chicago. When Emily mentioned to John her roommates were at the same bar, she was expecting this would intimidate him, but he was unfazed - this sense of self-security was the first thing Emily admired about John. After their second date which consisted of a Hawaiian-themed night at Beat Kitchen followed by Karaoke at Spider Bar, and conversations about a Brazilian show you can only watch in Portuguese that John & Emily realized they were the same brand of weird. The last three and a half years have been filled with many trips to Milwaukee, Marquette basketball games, Northwestern football games, concerts, foodventures, and even some golf :). These shared experiences over the last few years, for better or for worse (looking at you COVID-19) have revealed what Emily & John's life-long partnership would look like. John proposed after their third anniversary dinner at North Pond in Lincoln Park, Chicago. The weekend was full of love, celebrating with our families and friends, some of which traveling all the way from Minneapolis and Milwaukee.

What I love most about John is his unwavering loyalty to his loved ones, thoughtfulness, and generosity. John inspires me to grow into the best version of myself and always supports me in any goal I set. Our ability to work as a team, while still growing as individuals, is what makes our relationship stronger.

I love Emily's level of commitment to her family and friends along with her undying sense of adventure. She's never one to say no to something new which keeps things interesting and helps us grow closer through these experiences. She inspires me to take more chances and make sure that I'm enjoying the present versus looking towards what's next.

While John & Emily each have their own interests and hobbies, here are a few activities they like to do together: COOKING! John & Emily are both experts in the kitchen. Their friends know that whatever John & Emily bring to a potluck is sure to be delicious! Every Christmas, Emily & John enjoy "fancy dinner" in which Emily makes a dessert and acts as sous chef to whatever crazy dish John makes for the main. EATING! The pair make an effort every anniversary to "ball out" on one of Chicago's many Michelin-star restaurants. To-date they have feasted at Next, Galit & North Pond. Their dream is to save up for a meal at the prestigious Alinea restaurant in Lincoln Park. MUSIC! John & Emily's first interaction on Hinge was an in-depth conversation on the history of the band Blink182. Both have grown up with the love of exploring new music and is something they like to share with their loved ones. Emily & John have also attended many concert events over the years including Lollapolooza, Summerfest, Windy City Smokeout, Madeon (twice), The Band Camino (twice), Twentyonepilots, Monsters of Men, Andrew Belle, ODESZA, and as luck would have it - Blink182 got back together and John & Emily will be in attendance at their Chicago show in May! SPORTS! While John is the undeniable sports-guy with his job in sports marketing & volunteer position with his dad as ball boys for Northwestern Football, Emily loves the social aspects of watching sports & following the behind-the-scenes drama. During college football season, you can catch the pair either at their local spot - The Otherside Bar - watching games with fellow regulars or at Ryan Field cheering on the Wildcats (except when they play the Nebraska Huskers). Outside of football, Emily & John enjoy watching college basketball (go Marquette!) and Formula One racing. ADVENTURING! Whether they are traveling across the country or finding activities to do in Chicago, Emily & John love finding new things to try. On what was the first of many trips to Milwaukee, Emily took John on a hike before meeting his friends for the first time. When they heard John went in a hike, they couldn’t believe it, as John isn’t what they’d call “outdoorsy”. Since then, Emily & John have treated every new activity as an adventure - whether that meant visiting Charleston, going on a glass-bottom boat tour in Florida, eating their way through the Minnesota State Fair, or doing a bike-ride scavenger hunt in Chicago, the pair encourage each other to always find something new to learn and explore.