We first met back in 2014 while working together at Riverbend Music Center, where a summer job turned into the beginning of something much more. Over the years, we stayed friends, but it wasn’t until March 26, 2018, that everything changed. One day, after a rough shift at work, he asked if I wanted to get ice cream—and that simple gesture led us to Graeter’s in Newport, KY. We ended up driving to Newport Central Catholic High School, parking, and talking for hours. That night felt different, and from that moment on, we knew we had something special.

We got engaged on March 14, 2025, at The Lytle Hotel in Downtown Cincinnati—and to say I was surprised is an understatement. I’m not an easy person to catch off guard, but Blake managed to pull off the ultimate surprise. My aunt Kathy had texted me, Blake, my brother, and sister-in-law about a “surprise birthday party” for my mom, whose birthday is March 22. Since she usually works on her actual birthday, I didn’t think twice about the date. Little did I know, the real surprise was for me. Blake had both of our families secretly gathered to witness the proposal, a photographer ready to capture the moment, and a whole plan that left me absolutely speechless. I was screaming, crying, and borderline throwing up from the excitement. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, he had a surprise engagement party waiting with all of our friends and more family. It was perfect.