We're Getting Married in 2021!

It all started in a beer garden. Amanda's friend Kelsey had encouraged her to get out there and meet some new people (instead of going home to IL every weekend since moving to WI), and Chris had been going to Meetup events for a few months at this point to play volleyball and meet more friends in Milwaukee. Amanda sat down first with a liter of beer and Chris sat down across from her with an 8oz cup. One of their first conversations was actually a debate about Apple vs. Android products, and some flirty banter led to laughter and empty beers. Fast forward a few weeks to when a Beanie Baby and a Wolverine walked into a bar - during Halloween of course - and the two met up and talked all night. From there, they started texting which led to a first date. Chris didn't realize how big of a Cubs fan Amanda was, and asked her out to watch game 7 of the 2016 Cubs World Series. Amanda held herself together for most of the game, and the night was magical (both from a W perspective and the spark that Amanda and Chris felt for one another). From there, Amanda and Chris' love has been on an upward trajectory that sees no bounds. They've explored Milwaukee and other parts of Wisconsin, watched endless episodes of Jeopardy, spent weekends up north, learned how to create acrylic pour paintings, and kept a few plants alive. They've traveled to New Orleans, Las Vegas, and Hawaii, and can't wait to add some international travel to their itinerary soon. They continue to grow and build upon their relationship by spending time with friends and family in addition to prioritizing time for themselves (and pizza).

It was mid-May 2019 and Amanda and Chris were up north for a family weekend filled with…yard work, cutting down trees, and rain. Lots of rain. Chris had been acting a little weird leading up to the weekend, and kept saying on Saturday, "We should go down and look at the lake later", to which Amanda continued to say "Why? It's raining and I can see the lake from here." But right before dinner there was a lull in the rain and Chris was able to convince Amanda to put on her wellies and go down to the lake. As he started to talk, Amanda figured out what was going on, and of course started to cry (a cute puppy video will make her cry, so this wasn't surprising). Chris got down on one knee, in the mud, and asked Amanda to marry him. She said "YES!" and he put the most beautiful ring on her finger. After a few moments, they looked back towards the house and Amanda's brother was taking pictures while her parents, sister-in-law, and nephew were glued to the windows, smiles plastered on their faces. Though the skies were gray and rainy the rest of the night, there was a brightness that radiated from the newly engaged couple!