Our love story started like many great love stories do - at a bachelor party. David, Kate's brother in law, was in Chicago celebrating Erik Wolf's bachelor party and asked Kate if she would meet up with the group. At Stretch, in Wrigleyville, Kate got a chance to talk to Matt, who was living in Minnesota at the time, and they hit it off. Fast forward to eight months later, and Matt is moving from Minnesota to Chicago. Abby, Kate's sister, had hatched a plan during the Wolf wedding to set Kate and Matt up with each other, and this was her opportunity. She re-connected Matt and Kate once he moved back, and they decided to get drinks at Duke of Perth in Lincoln Park and go axe throwing. It was snowing (in April, thanks Chicago) so Kate offered to drive Matt home. The rest is history!

On a quiet, warm March Saturday, we took our dog Pauline on a hike in one of our usual spots, the Caldwell Woods on the Northwest Side of Chicago. Matt tried to play it cool, but Kate knew something was up thanks to Matt's stammering and odd conversations. Eventually, we found a secluded spot next to the North Branch of the Chicago River. With Pauline as his witness, Matt got down on one knee and popped the question. Kate answered with a loud "of course!" We celebrated our engagement at our favorite local Italian restaurant, a nightcap at the bar where we went on our first date, and a Zoom brunch with our families the next day.