Things are happening.

We met the way a lot of people do these days—on Hinge. But let’s be honest, it was really our dogs who made the first move. Both of us had pictures with our pups, and that was all the excuse we needed to start talking. What almost didn’t happen, though, was our first date. Gina (admittedly) blew Brady off twice, and even on the night we finally met, she pushed it back an hour. But good things are worth waiting for, and that night turned out to be one we’ll never forget. We met at a local dive bar—like, the definition of a dive bar—on a Sunday night. The moment Gina walked in, Brady swears he was completely taken aback and thought she was even prettier in person. What was supposed to be a quick drink turned into over four hours of nonstop conversation. By the end of the night, we had wandered out to the “patio”—really just picnic benches in the parking spots behind the bar—and we didn’t even notice how much time had passed. From that night on, our lives completely changed. What started with a delayed first date and a dive bar turned into the best love story either of us could have imagined.

What started as just another Tuesday park date turned into the best surprise of our lives. Tuesdays had recently become "our thing” — wandering through local parks, which always reminded me of growing up and how much I love being surrounded by nature. So when he suggested a trip to Inniswood Metro Gardens before dinner “for my birthday,” I didn’t think twice. I had conveniently just gotten my hair and nails done, so I was ready for a birthday week full of fun events! As we walked through the gardens, we ended up at a quiet little waterfall oasis. That’s when he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was beautiful, unexpected, and somehow felt like the most natural thing in the world. Hidden in the bushes (literally blending in with the shrubs) was our photographer, capturing every laugh and every tear. After the initial excitement, we FaceTimed our parents to share the news, then celebrated with a steak dinner at one of our favorite spots. When we got home, the night became even more special. Our back patio — a space we worked so hard to create this year and absolutely love — was covered in candles, rose petals, balloons, and a chilled bottle of champagne. We toasted to our favorite love story, with the best company: our three dogs. It was perfectly us — a little adventure, a little romance, our favorite space, and a whole lot of love.