We’re getting married!

A truly classic love story...we met on a dating app! In 2017, Alyssa had just started her Masters Program at the University of Illinois Department of Animal Sciences where she was studying how bile is transformed by the gut microbiome (no further questions, please). Zachary had returned back home to Arcola, IL that summer to work at The Equity after graduating from Southern Illinois University. We both joined the dating app craze with relatively low expectations. However, we started messaging in fall of 2017 and FINALLY shared a first date in December at Scotty’s Brewhouse in Champaign, IL (RIP). We’ve been together ever since!

A year and 3 months of our long distance relationship was finally over! Zachary had recently moved to Indiana to share a life with Alyssa, and he was bombarded with “welcome to the neighborhood” coupons (which he typically threw away before Alyssa could use them). However, he told Alyssa about a deal he couldn't pass up...a photographer had contacted him with $200 off a couples photoshoot. The goal was to fill our new home with pictures, and there was even a professional flyer stating just that. Alyssa agreed that was a GOOD deal, and they excitedly booked the photoshoot. Little did Alyssa know, the entire deal and flyer was fabricated by Zachary and the photographer as part of the surprise proposal. At the end of the shoot, Zachary “tied his shoe” and asked the big question! Zachary proudly presented the ring he picked out all by himself before moving. Check out our photos tab to see the proof!