I'm sure Nick has a different version but here's mine: Years ago, Nick owned a bar that was near the one I worked at. He would come in and sit at the bar, always with a new story about a project he was taking on or an adventure he just had. For YEARS he would come in. Never made a move. Never asked for my number. NEVER brought me a copy of his book. It wasn't until after the pandemic when I was running a new restaurant in the neighbourhood, he would come in... and bring his dates. I don't know what finally tipped him off. Maybe it was one too many lingering arm touches, but Nick finally got the hint and asked me out on our first date. xo

I wanted to propose right after our first date. Crazy right? The morning after I went to Softball and told my Groomsman Adam I'd met the girl I was going to marry. I also hit a homerun that day, but let's get back to the point. Exactly one year from our first date, I suggested we celebrate with a staycation, we booked a fancy hotel a few blocks from our apartment, and went on a beautiful tour across the city. After dinner I asked Ellise to take our puppy for a quick walk while I got changed, but this was all just a clever ruse to get her out of the hotel room. The moment she left I setup a camera, lit 30 candles and spread rose petals across the room. I think I'm lucky I didn't set fire to the room. When she returned I hit play on what would become the song of our first dance, walked her into the room and knelt down on one knee. I'm happy we recorded the proposal because honestly I think I might have blacked out during my speech, all I remember was her enthusiastic "YEAH" when I asked her to marry me. It was worth the wait.