Natalie and I had kind of lost touch during her last semester of her Junior year at Central Michigan University while I was also heavily traveling through Europe and Brazil for work. When she moved home, she reached out and asked me if I wanted to get a beer at the 5 star restaurant, the Bench Pub. I agreed and she picked me up. We sat at the bar, making casual conversation, sharing plenty of laughs, and talking with our bar-seat neighbors. One bar goer was appropriately inebriated for a Thursday evening and told us we could be a model couple. We thanked him and told him we were only friends but he assured us he saw something more. We talked with this man for a few hours, were told some interesting stories, and both got kissed on the cheek (by him). After my fair share of drinks, I spilled a full beer on my and Natalie’s lap. We finally bid our farewells to the Bench that evening. Natalie drove me home and parked in the driveway and we talked for a few minutes. It was that moment that every man knows. Is this just a friendship? Do l listen to the drunk Bench patron and make a move? What's going on here? With the help of some liquid courage, I leaned over and gave Natalie a kiss, our first kiss. She smiled, looked at the passenger door, and said "get out of my car."

My birthday was coming up, and my new found love for Broadway led us to book a trip to the Big Apple, NYC. We planned this trip for my 27th birthday, to celebrate, take a break from reality, homeownership, work, and a dramatic puppy that we love oh so much. We bought the house, got the dog, two new jobs, truly living the dream. We're creating a life together, what more could you ask for? Natalie would tell you, a ring. With the help of Novi Jewelers (not sponsored), I designed a beautiful ring that could only compliment the beauty of the woman wearing it. We had the trip planned, now I had to plan the proposal. I reached out to an old friend from high school that I knew lived in Brooklyn. She connected me with her friend, Gabi, a photographer. I connected with Gabi and explained what I wanted. Roses, picnic, champagne, charcuterie board, all the odds and ends to make this the perfect proposal. She agreed, and we began planning. Fast forward to the day of the proposal. We're dressed to the 9s because I convinced Natalie it was easier to be dressed nice all day, rather than walk around in street wear and go back to the hotel to get dressed for our dinner. We're in the Uber on the way to Central Park, I'm sweating, about to throw up, preparing my speech in my head. We arrive. The picnic isn't ready. What do I do now? Where can I bring Natalie to distract her? As any panicked man would do, I make Natalie walk about a mile on shifty cobblestone in heels, of course. We walk to Belvedere Castle and look out at the park beyond. I can literally see Gabi setting up the picnic. Once the picnic was ready, we walk up, I grab the ring out of my pocket, say "Natalie," get down on one knee, and instantly start crying. No speech to be had, no words of endearment, all I could say was "Will you marry me?" She said yes.