It all began during the summer before junior year of high school. Katie and her friends had started hanging out with a group of boys — Ronnie’s best friends: Cameron, Sean, and Kyle. All summer long, Ronnie kept asking the guys to hang out, and their answer was always, “Sorry, we’re hanging with the girls today.” Confused (and maybe a little curious) about who these girls were and why they suddenly had all his friends’ attention, Ronnie decided to see for himself. Before long, the whole crew was spending their days together — and somewhere between all the jokes, late nights, and hangs, Ronnie and Katie developed a secret crush on each other. After months of pretending it wasn’t obvious to everyone else, they finally admitted their feelings. Katie waited many months for Ronnie to make it official… and on June 21, 2017, he did. They took a walk through Island Lake — got a little lost along the way — and Ronnie asked Katie to be his girlfriend. They ended the night exactly how they loved spending their time: with the crew. Throughout high school, Ronnie and Katie were each other’s biggest supporters. Whether it was cheering from the sidelines at football games, braving the cold for baseball games, or driving to the Breslin Center to cheer on the pom team, they showed up for each other in every moment. Some of their favorite early memories include Katie driving Ronnie around before he had his license, late-night Taco Bell runs, and Katie happily always tagging along with the boys. When Katie went off to college, they spent a few years long distance. It wasn’t always easy, but it only made their relationship stronger — and the weekends together even sweeter. Ronnie knew Katie had been dreaming up wedding plans for years, and she started to suspect a proposal was coming when his reactions changed slightly. On November 15, 2025, Ronnie planned every detail with so much thought — and managed to keep it all a secret, which is truly impressive since Katie is good at ruining many secrets. Katie believed she was headed to Island Lake to take fall family photos for Ronnie’s sister. But as she walked along the path, she spotted Ronnie’s hair through the trees and realized they were standing in the same spot they always visited back in high school. She turned the corner to find Ronnie waiting for her — and she said yes! Their families joined them moments later to celebrate, and the night ended with a surprise gathering at their local bar, filled with their closest friends and family. Ronnie and Katie have been talking and dreaming about this day for years. Their love has grown through challenges and celebrations, through seasons of distance and seasons of everyday life. They cannot wait to share their wedding day with the people who have been such a meaningful part of their story for the last eight years.