We met in July of 2018, thanks to a spontaneous Sunday Funday. One of my friends asked if I wanted to join her to meet up to watch the FIFA World Cup at Harp Irish Pub in Milwaukee. We all had fun and before we knew it, we were all spending more time together often ending up at another favorite bar, Vintage. The following month, I thought we were all heading to Irish Fest together. But when I arrived at Vintage, I realized that Pete hadn't asked anyone else to go but me. To make it even better, we showed up unintentionally matching in black shorts and white shirts. That night, we went out, stayed for hours, talked about everything, and laughed nonstop. By the end of the evening, it was clear something special had started. From that first unexpected date on, we were inseparable.

Pete had been secretly planning the proposal for months! I bought tickets to Harley Davidson Homecoming to see Chris Stapleton on July 11, 2025, so we drove from Denver back to Milwaukee and arrived Friday. Somewhere in Iowa, Pete was driving while I sat in the passenger seat when his phone lit up. I glanced over and casually said, “Hey, you just got a spam text from Kesslers Jewlers.” I didn’t think twice about it. Friday night, Pete said he needed to run to the grocery store to grab a few things and then he was gone for two hours. I thought it was strange, but I didn’t question it. What I didn’t know was that he had actually gone to Harp Irish Pub the place we first met to meet with the general manager and walk through every detail of what he had planned for the next day. Saturday was concert day, and a few of my best friends were coming into town to join us, they originally said they would arrive early afternoon but now wouldn’t be arriving till late in the day. I tell Pete we need to stop at Target. I’m in my most comfortable athleisure clothes, fully planning for a casual errand. Meanwhile, he keeps insisting that I get dressed up, do my hair, and put on makeup at 10 a.m. He also asked where my dresses were I told him I left them in Denver; he seemed annoyed, which was weird. I refuse. He pushes. I resist. Finally, he tells me we’re going to be out all day and might not come back before the concert, so I reluctantly agree to get ready. On the way to Target, he casually mentions that we need to make a quick stop at Harp Irish Pub because they’re giving away a free neon sign his friend wants. That friend is out of town, so Pete offers to pick it up for him. We arrived, and I told Pete to just go grab it, but he insists I come with him in case it’s heavy. Harp isn’t even open yet. We enter through the side door and walk down to the patio bar area, and I am completely confused. I see a cardboard box with his friend’s name written on it, and there’s an employee nearby photographing cocktails. None of this is making sense. Then Pete takes me to the spot where we first met gets down on one knee and proposes. What I didn’t realize in that moment was that the general manager he met with the night before was quietly capturing photos of the entire proposal. Afterward, Pete leads me inside for a celebratory drink and that’s when I’m surprised again! Ten of our closest friends were hiding inside the whole time watching everything unfold. The Kesslers spam text, grocery store run, the outfit argument, the “neon sign”, my friends arriving late- every detail was part of the plan. He proposed exactly where we first met almost to the specific day and it couldn’t have been more perfect!