Our story began in October 2017, when Cody was visiting a friend at Eastern Illinois University—where Stephanie was attending at the time. What started as a chance encounter quickly blossomed into something meaningful, and by January, we were officially a couple. With Stephanie living in Romeoville and Cody in Chicago, we made the most of every opportunity to see each other—meeting up wherever and whenever our schedules would allow. From spontaneous arcade dates to weekend getaways, each moment together made our bond stronger. In 2022, we took a big step forward and moved into our first apartment. Building a home together has been one of our favorite adventures so far—filled with laughter, love, late-night conversations, and plenty of game nights (with takeout, of course). Then came July 21, 2024—a day that changed everything. In a moment full of joy and love, Stephanie got down on one knee and asked Cody to marry her. And she said yes! It was the start of an exciting new chapter in our journey. We’re beyond excited to celebrate this next step with all of you. Thank you for being part of our story—it means the world to us.