Jake and I met on a blind date. No really, it wasn't at a bar, dating app or however else people meet these days. My good friend reached out to me and was excited about "this guy" named Jake she wanted me to meet. She told me her husband was childhood friends with him and he happened to be living in Kansas City too (we were both living out there at the time). She ended up giving Jake my phone number that night (it was actually on Superbowl 2018). After a few texts exchanged between Jake and I we had a date set for February 7th 2018! That date came rolling right around the corner and we went to a little Italian restaurant. Jake had a lamb chop and red wine while I had pasta and white wine. After our first date, we were smitten!

It was coming to the end of 2019 and we wanted to plan a trip to Branson, MO around Christmas time. Somehow, Jake ended up convincing me to let him plan the trip. A week before we were supposed to leave Jake tells me "Oh, by the way, we aren't going to Branson next week." He wouldn't tell me where we were going but every day for the week leading up to the trip he would give me a hint. By the end of that week I had a few ideas where we might be headed but he still wouldn't tell me until we were on the way to the airport! December 12th Jake picked me up from work and we were finally on our way to the airport, I was so anxious to find out where the heck we were going! After a few minutes in the car he told me we were going to NYC! I was just about in tears I was so excited because I had always wanted to go especially during Christmas time. We got to NYC and it was so magical. we did all the classic touristy things and more! Our second night there we went to a wine bar and then we were going to go to the top of the Empire State building. We bought our tickets and went to get in line when the security guard told us not to go up because it was too cloudy and there was no visibility from the top. Jake was so disappointed and I didn't understand why at the time, later I found out he was going to pop the question at the top of the Empire State Building. So, he had to come up with a backup plan. When we got back to the hotel that night Jake had mentioned we should go on a carriage ride in Central Park the next night, so we booked tickets that online that night! The next day rolled around and it was time for our carriage ride through Central Park. It was so beautiful seeing all the city lights from the park while we were all snuggled up in the back of the carriage. About halfway through our ride Jake pulled out the most perfect ring from his pocket! After I stopped crying I could finally say YES! It was the most perfect and magical weekend that we will never forget!