Wedding Anniversary Celebration

In fall 2013, a group of college students piled into a classroom to sit through orientation at The Columbia Chronicle, Columbia College Chicago’s award-winning student newspaper. Tatiana and her friend, Tyler Eagle, sat toward the back of the classroom, and Donald grabbed a seat in the row in front of them. Donald, who had hair extending down to his shoulders at the time, felt a tap on his shoulder from Tatiana. She complimented him on his hair, to which Donald responded with a cheerful, yet confused, “Thanks!” Tatiana, half-jokingly turned to Tyler and whispered, “Is it okay to tell a straight man that his hair looks nice?” The two went on to work together at The Chronicle, where Donald created captivating, detailed designs from scratch every week and Tatiana cranked out news and feature stories for the paper’s Campus desk. Over time, they became friends and began dating the following semester. Soon, the two graduated from Columbia and began their careers in graphic design and journalism. They supported each other through internships, first jobs and other stops along the bumpy road into adulthood. (While Donald designed Tatiana’s business cards and gave her pointers on her online portfolio, Tatiana copy edited Donald’s resumes and cover letters.) Donald, a Chicago native, whisked Tatiana, the native Detroiter, around town to great restaurants, took her on adventures, and introduced her to his loving family and friends. Their relationship continued apace until August 13, 2023, when Donald surprised Tatiana with a ring. The two went out for a late lunch. After parking near the restaurant, the two passed by the train stop where they had their first kiss after their first date. When Tatiana stopped to reminisce, Donald dropped down to one knee and asked her to marry him. Shocked and thrilled by the romantic gesture, her mouth dropped, and she looked left and right for cameras. This wasn’t a movie. It was true love happening in real life. She said yes! The two officially tied the knot on May 24, 2025, but now, the happy couple is overjoyed to celebrate their love with their closest friends and family!