Richard and Cara didn't know when their paths first crossed. Cara spent every Tuesday band rehearsal staring at the back of Richard's head in the clarinet section. Meanwhile, Richard had no idea that Cara was behind him in the horn section. Eventually, these two started chatting, and Richard asked Cara if she would like to grab a drink after rehearsal one Tuesday. Cara was so nervous that she ran away from Richard after quickly stating, "Yeah Hop Haus." The two of them went to Hop Haus, a local brewery and Richard's favorite. The two chatted until closing time, and so their relationship began.

Due to the unfortunate pandemic, there hadn't been much square dancing going on, but Richard had kept his plans under wrap. He told Cara that he was, "going for a drive" whenever he was looking for the perfect ring. Then the first square dance since the pandemic, in a parking lot in Brookfield on Memorial day, Richard put his scheme into action. Without Cara's knowing, Richard asked the caller Wayne Irwin to help him out. During one of the tips, Wayne told all of the dancers to face their partner and then instructed the men to get down on their right knee. He smoothly pulled out the ring, watched 4,000 different emotions cross Cara's face, and then was delighted to hear her SCREAM, " YES!".