The year was 2013. Amy had recently relocated from Arkansas to work in the Chicagoland area and after receiving an invite for a small get-together from a co-worker, decided to head into the city. That night, Jim happened to be headed to the same party with some friends. They did not know it yet, but a trip to a mutual friend’s apartment for some weekend R & R would be the start of a wonderful adventure. After about 6 months of casually running into each other during weekend festivities, Jim finally rustled up the courage to ask for Amy’s number while she was leaving a party. Much to his surprise, she obliged (He still doesn’t know why…). After about 2 weeks of scheduling around Amy’s first polar vortex, they met at Cooper’s Hawk for their first of many dates to come. Amy still gives Jim crap about ordering a salad on the first date. Amy ordered an avocado and chicken sandwich with bacon. The rest, as they say, is history...

A new job, busy schedules & international travel prompted a weekend getaway to a Gibson family retreat located in Delavan, WI called The Lake Lawn Lodge. Hours before leaving with Amy for Wisconsin, Jim’s phone rang. It was the jeweler telling him a shiny engagement ring was ready…many weeks sooner than anticipated. After a mild panic attack, Jim jumped in the car and picked up the ring. While Amy was at work counting down the hours to the weekend getaway, Jim was coming to the realization that his previous “plan” needed to change. After hasty phone calls and text messages with friends and family, Jim decided that his engagement plans would be bumped up. Unbeknownst to Amy, tonight would be the night he proposed. Upon arriving at Lake Lawn, Jim insisted on a walk before dinner. Leaving Amy to balk at the idea of walking in 26-degree weather, Jim went to retrieve the snow boots from the car. Instead of returning with boots, he had a small pink gift bag. While on the walk around the resort, they found that Jim’s favorite courtyard was closed due to ice. Jim insisted they keep walking, while he again had to make changes to his plan. After a full lap of the resort, Jim insisted on going back to the courtyard, where they found that the doors were not locked. Once outside under a moonlit sky, he gave Amy the gift bag and asked her to open it. Inside were a beautiful pair of diamond earrings, and underneath that, a pink, heart-shaped dog tag that read LU GIBSON (instead of LU LOFTUS). Speechless, Amy turned to Jim, finding him kneeling on ice, with ring box in hand. His question was met with a huge, resounding YES.

A foundational element of our relationship has always been the love and support of our family and friends, many of which are from all over the country. Although the distance can be difficult, we know that your love and support is ever-present. More than just a celebration of our love and commitment to each other, this milestone is an opportunity for all of us to be together under one roof. These moments are few and far between, and we appreciate all who are traveling near and far to make this day possible. We look forward to sharing this special day with all of you. We can’t wait to see y’all in Chicago! Slainte!