It was a balmy Sunday in early October 2020 when Lucas went to meet friends at local watering hole Mudville 9 to watch football. That day, however, would be about much more than cold bud light and luke warm wings. Upon arriving at the bar he was introduced to Kate, and was immediately smitten by this beautiful blonde, down to earth, rabid Bills fan. Sparks flew as they tried desperately to convince the staff to turn on the Bills game (unfortunately, the Jets game had the same time slot) over beers and vodka sodas with a splash of cranberry. Thus began their courtship. Over the coming months, Kate and Lucas looked for any excuse to bring their mutual friends together so they could see each other. Thankfully, Josh Allen and the Bills were just good enough to create opportunities for them. After many Saturday and Sunday afternoons talking, laughing and cursing at the TV, Lucas finally worked up the courage to ask Kate out on a proper date in early January 2021. Lucas’ timing was tragic. Kate was scheduled to move back to Buffalo indefinitely two weeks later. The two spent almost every day of those two weeks together and once Kate moved, continued to find time - whether it was in New York, Buffalo or Miami - to see each other. After a few months, Lucas convinced Kate to move back to New York and they began their official journey together.

At around 11:00 am on Saturday July 22, 2023, Lucas and Kate walked to Carl Schurz Park on the East River in Manhattan to meet Erik and Megan Sherman, Lucas’ childhood best friend and his wife, before brunch. Kate was quite annoyed - it was too early for brunch, she didn’t have time to go to her barre class, she didn’t like her outfit, and Lucas was overdressed for the 80 degree day in long pants and a button down. What she didn’t know was that the entire plan was a clever ruse to lead her into Lucas’ proposal plot. When they arrived at the east river, Lucas bent down on one knee to propose. Kate - in utter shock - didn’t notice their friend Adriana capturing the moment (thank you Adj) or her best friend Jorey waiting under an umbrella with a white dress for her to put on. After Kate said yes, the three of them whisked her to Lucas and Kate’s apartment a few blocks away so she could throw on the white dress. They needed to be quick to meet a few friends at a bar around the corner. Kate didn’t even have time to call her parents, which Lucas assured her she could do at the bar. This was, once again, a clever lie. At the bar, they were led to a back room where Kate and Lucas’ parents and about 50 of their friends were waiting to celebrate.