Capturing "our story" is no small feat. We came into this relationship from different ends of the dating spectrum, so it only felt right to tell it from both sides. Like everything else in wedding planning, we tackled it together—scribbles on an envelope, brainstorming in the car, and one shared Google Doc to be exact. So here’s our story—two very different beginnings turned into one shared journey. ARI: Ready to reenter the dating world the old-fashioned way, I asked my Aunt Jami to connect me with her nephew, Greg, to help coordinate a setup. Being a Deerfield native and a U of I grad, I figured he had a solid roster—and he did NOT disappoint. He immediately told me he’d “got the guy” and that he was “husband material.” Say less! GARRETT: For a long time, dating was less about connection and more about collecting “data points.” My routine was simple: find a romantic fascination, go on a few dates, lose interest, move on. Eventually, I had to admit the problem was me. That realization led to a two-year journey with my therapist (best friend), Carolyn, who challenged my beliefs and helped me understand how my upbringing shaped my dating life (sorry, Mom). When I was finally ready to try vulnerability, Greg called. From a simple setup to a lifetime together—1,577 days in the making. It began on June 30, 2022, with a text: “Hey Ariel, it’s Garrett Fisher. Greg gave me your number…” For Garrett, first dates were nothing new. For Ari, it was her first in nearly six years. Neither expected it to last four hours—or to be politely asked to leave. The gentleman he is, Garrett walked Ari home, promised he'd call an Uber, and waited until she was safely inside and then quietly walked 1.5 miles back to his car. There was never an Uber—he just wasn’t ready for the night to end. Though equally excited, the early weeks felt different to each of them. For Ari, it was blissful. Dating Garrett was different; he was kind, empathetic, and willingly shared about his best friend and nightly companion, Teddy. If you’re surprised Ari didn’t run for the hills upon learning that Garrett, at age 28, still slept with a stuffed animal—us too. For Garrett, the post–first-date experience was horrific. Not because he wasn’t excited, but because, after one date, for the first time in his life, he found someone that he didn’t want to be just another data point. Garrett rewrote texts, agonized immediately after hitting send, and lamented that those words now on Ari’s phone would be his downfall. It also didn’t help that, when Garrett introduced Ari to his friends and family, the common reaction was, “don’t fuck it up.” As they settled into life together, a few hard truths emerged: book beats iPad in bed, dessert after dinner is non-negotiable, every item of Garrett’s clothing somehow became Ari’s, and Ari was going to have to work a lot harder to earn the love and acceptance of Garrett’s family than Garrett was of Ari's. In June 2024, the couple became roommates. Not long after, Garrett started planning a proposal that was thoughtful, intentional, and unforgettable—or, as his future father-in-law put it, it was time for “Garrett to get his hand out of his pants.” He chose Wilde, their first date spot, and thoughtfully recreated the moment with the same chairs and table, and even had a graphic designer create a custom menu that swapped food items for milestones in their relationship. He ended the menu the same way this great story ends, with his forever plans: "I plan on making you smile. I plan on making you laugh so hard you snort. I plan on being your best friend. I plan on telling you every day how much I love you. I plan on being your husband until my last breath and starting a beautiful family of Fish with you. The plan hinges on a single question: "Will you marry me?"