We are getting married!

Jen and Corey met on the dating app Hinge. Corey had a photo of his parents' adorable golden retriever, Miranda, and Jen couldn’t resist hitting "like"—how could she not, with a face that cute? Naturally, she had to meet both the guy and the dog behind the photo. They chatted for a few weeks before deciding to meet in person. Their first date was at St. Andrew’s Golf Course in West Chicago, where they hit the driving range and followed it up with dinner and drinks. That same day—August 20, 2023—just so happened to be Jen’s parents’ wedding anniversary. This would have been their 40th wedding anniversary. Before she left for the date, Jen’s sister Heather, who was visiting at the time, teased her: “Maybe this will be your future husband!” It was the hottest day of the year, and Jen, ever the thoughtful esthetician, came prepared with sunscreen and extra water for them both. When Corey stepped out of his car, Jen instantly felt a spark—she just knew. They ended the night at Bulldog Ale House, talking for hours. Both left the date with the same feeling: something special had just begun. Three weeks later, Corey invited Jen to his coworker Brad’s annual Oktoberfest party. There, everyone referred to Jen as “Corey’s girlfriend,” much to her surprise—they hadn’t exactly had the “define the relationship” talk yet. When she brought it up, Corey shrugged and said, “Well, you were going to say yes, so I didn’t think we needed to have the conversation.” And just like that, they fell in love—and the rest is history.

On April 5, 2025, Jen was having a tough day at work. Sensing she needed a lift, Corey texted her, “I have something that’ll cheer you up when you get here.” That evening, the two were making homemade copycat McDonald’s snack wraps—something fun and familiar. As they were cooking, Corey casually suggested they open a bottle of champagne. Jen found it a bit odd, especially when she noticed a bouquet of flowers on the kitchen table, but she didn’t say anything. Then Corey looked at her and said, “I have a question for you.” He pulled her into a hug and continued, “I want something more with you. I want you to move in… and I think we need to go ring shopping next week. Will you marry me?” Jen immediately started crying—and said yes. A week later, they went to Jared’s to pick out the perfect ring. As Corey was checking out, the song “All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles came on—her dad’s favorite song. In that moment, it felt like her dad was right there with them.