Welcome to our Life of Togetherness and Eternal Partnership Celebration Event!

On a trip to visit Elise shortly after her move to STL, Tom and Renee met a girl close in age to Elise, and so did what any normal parents would do: gave her Elise's phone number because "our daughter just moved here and needs friends." (subtle) To Elise's great surprise, the girl (whose name I forget and will be subsequently referenced as "Girl") called Elise to invite her for a drink at Chava's, a bar in their mutual neighborhood. It was late, and Elise was still at the office, but beer sounded really (really) nice, and Girl didn't sound *completely* like a serial killer, so why not? On arrival, Elise perched at the end of the bar with Girl, and was greeted by Alex- an extremely attractive bartender with great hair and bone structure. Girl spent the night talking to pretty much everyone within hearing distance, while Elise chatted with Alex as he made drinks. A few weeks later a friend took Elise to dinner at Chava's (per Elise's request in hopes of seeing Alex the hot bartender again). As luck would have it, not only was he their waiter, but he remembered everything about Elise that she had told him weeks before! Elise, on the other hand, learned that Alex's name was not Alex at all, but Brad! (and consequently that Brad was clearly the better human) After leaving dinner, Elise knew she had to do what any self-respecting woman would do in this situation: she went back to the bar the next night 15 minutes before close, ordered a drink from Brad and proceeded to lament loudly and dramatically about being new to town, and needing a drink after a hard week, and how is she ever going to know where to go without a knowledgable local bartender to help her?!?! Is the world even safe for a girl like her on a night like this!? (Lavenders: subtle like hammers) Fortunately, our knight in shining armor saved his damsel in distress with a pale ale and Jersey style pizza, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Elise and Brad planned to meet up with some friends to watch Super Mega Eclipse 2017. During the moment of totality (when the moon is right in front of the sun and the cool stuff is happening) Elise noticed Brad sitting in front of her trying to get her attention. Her (totally reasonable) response was to swat at him and tell him to stop getting in her way because she was trying to watch the ...oh my god why are on your knee!?!? This was promptly followed by the (re-discovery) that Elise is terrible at surprises, as she swiftly grabbed the ring and held it behind her while a very confused Brad shrugged and asked "well... will you?" to which she replied "yes!" And here we are! Making wedding websites and trying to convince you fine folks to trek out to STL to celebrate with us. :)