On a random night in June, Nicona had been spending some time with some friends when he got a message from an old military buddy who was in town with his wife and friends getting drinks and invited Nicona to come along. It wasn't long before he found himself inside Brit's Pub in downtown Minneapolis, and on the rooftop patio, seated with friends, was introduced to Emily. It wasn't realized at the time, but the pair had met once before at the same friend's house for a birthday party several years prior and a little serendipity had brought them back together. (It may have been a setup, who knows?) In no time the two hit it off, bantering back and forth throughout the night culminating in Nicona driving Emily home with date plans for later that week. Dinner outings turned into concert nights and evening drives blasting synthwave and the Beatles on the same playlist to anyone confused enough to listen. From there, it didn't take long for one date to become a dozen, and the two decided to move in together later that same year. In the five years since, Emily unknowingly picked out her kitten Luna, Nicona's senior dog Midnight learned that (most) people aren't that bad, and that there is a healthy balance for worrying about life. In November of 2023, reminiscing over pictures of their time together, Emily found that the last picture was a picture of a ring, and as she turned to look at him, found Nicona on one knee. Surprised and shocked, all she could manage to say in the end was: "Yes, dammit!" Courtesy of those words, we both look forward to all of you joining us to celebrate our marriage!