In the fall of 2015, at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, Kobe wandered into the shared kitchen after a night of questionable decisions and met Carson, who was making taquitos—like a culinary goddess in a dorm kitchen. She offered him one, and as they chatted, KOBE felt an instant spark— Carson... not so much. Playfully, he told his friends that if Carson ever gave him a chance, they'd end up married, not knowing he was basically speaking his destiny into existence. But after that year, Carson transferred to another school, and they lost touch—and not because of lack of effort on Kobe's end... Fast forward five years and many unread messages later (luckily nobody was counting), eventually they reconnected and began talking to each other daily. After many long FaceTime calls, he finally convinced her to visit him in Minneapolis in January 2020. The weekend was a turning point—he realized that not only was she still hilarious, but the spark was still there. So they did the only logical thing: started a long-distance relationship, filled with late-night texts and even longer FaceTime calls.  Eventually, Carson moved in with him in Fargo, where they survived a North Dakota winter and spent the pandemic navigating their post-college life together. They later moved to Chicago, where they rescued a puppy, Ms. Frankie, who instantly turned their lives into a delightful chaos. After a few failed proposal attempts (blame it on bad timing, not lack of love), he finally nailed the perfect moment in August 2023. With a ring in hand and a nervous grin, he asked Carson to marry him. She said yes, and he knew that their journey—one that started with a simple plate of taquitos—was only just beginning.

On the afternoon of Saturday, August 26th, 2023, in the heart of Chicago, Kobe got down on one knee and proposed to Carson, marking the culmination of over a year of careful planning. Their relationship, which had blossomed over three years, had come a long way since they first met back in Crookston, and this moment would be forever etched in their hearts. Kobe had carefully orchestrated the proposal, enlisting the help of their closest friends in the city to transform the rooftop of a rented BnB into a breathtaking celebration of their love, complete with floral arrangements and framed photos that traced their journey together. From their first photo in 2020 in Minneapolis to their first family portrait with Ms. Frankie, each image told a story of their shared memories and milestones. About a month before the big day, Kobe had casually planted the seed by telling Carson that a friend was hosting an event, prompting her to dress to impress—little did she know, it was all part of his master plan. As the day approached, Carson became stressed over which outfit to wear, and Kobe, knowing her well after three years together, steered her towards the one he didn't want her to pick—knowing it would then be the one that she would choose. They drove the short distance to the BnB, with Kobe maintaining his cool while Carson remained clueless. Upon entering the empty house, the soft sounds of "Gang Over Luv" by Brent Faiyaz filled the air—a song Carson had introduced Kobe to, one that would forever remind them of the special bond they shared. Carson, confused, asked where everyone was, and Kobe casually mentioned they were all upstairs. As they climbed what felt like an endless staircase, Carson still had no idea what awaited her at the top. When they stepped onto the rooftop Carson did not register what was going on at first.. and then she saw the beautiful setup, her eyes widened in shock, and she let out a soft, "oohhh." Kobe gently guided her to the center, dropped to one knee, and with a smile full of love, asked her to marry him. With a smile as wide as the horizon at sunset, stretching endlessly with warmth and promise... Carson said yes. This marked the beginning of their next chapter together.