We met through a mutual friend, Jessica Alison. Jake has known Jess since grade school and Kat met her in 2015 through mutual friends. They were both invited to Jess's 26th birthday on 7/1/2017, which entailed taking a bus to Michigan for a day of wine tasting. On the way back to Chicago, after quite a few glasses of vino, the group was blasting tunes and continuing the celebration. Kat suddenly heard someone play a song by the band New Found Glory, a band that brings back vivid memories of Kat's (and Jake's) teenage "Emo Warped Tour" days. If you grew up in the early 2000's, you'll know. Kat immediately had to find out which one of Jess's friends had the same taste in music as her, and that's when she first locked eyes with Jake. Kat and Jake talked non-stop for the remainder of the bus ride and continued to be drawn to one-another once the after party at Jess's house started. Jake asked her on a date the following week and they have spent essentially every day together since. They both knew that they had met their soulmate after that first day. On Christmas day 2020, Kat and Jake spent the morning with the Werners in the city before heading to Lake Zurich to spend the rest of the day with the Schnurs. Before heading out to the burbs, they stopped at their apartment in River North to drop off Christmas gifts and pick up a few things. When they walked into their living room, Jake unexpectedly said, "and I have one more Christmas present for you." He got down on one knee and proposed. Of course Kat said yes!! They spent an hour sipping champagne and slow dancing (to punk music obviously!) in their apartment. When they finally made the drive out to the Schnur's, Jake had another surprise. Kat's entire family had traveled to the Schnurs and both families spent the holiday together. It was the best way to end the year that was 2020. The rest is, and continues to be, history.