We're getting married!

We first met in middle school - circa 2006. Joey was the class clown with the kindest heart, and I was the driven girl that could be friends with just about anyone (or so I'd like to think.) We hung out in the same friend group often, and grew to be good friends through those early years. High school came along, and we kept our strong bond throughout. Little did I know, Joey had the biggest crush on me from day one, and I was completely oblivious. He would try to set up times for us to hang out one on one. I had no idea his intention was to form a more serious relationship, and therefore, I would always invite our whole friend group to hang out too (way to go Chloe!) Then, senior year came along, and he asked me to prom. I obviously said YES, and I would do it again 10 years later. We had the best time at prom (as friends.) We went our separate ways to college. Joey went to the University of Northern Iowa, and I went to University of Iowa. We remained friends through this time, dated other people, and had so much fun at our respective colleges. After we graduated in summer of 2016, Joey moved to Chicago to begin his career in commercial real estate. I decided to go to a Chicago Cubs game with friends. Joey saw that we were in town and immediately messaged me saying we should meet up. We met at the Irish Oak, a Notre Dame bar, obviously! We had so much fun that night together and didn't stop talking after. There were numerous texts, phone calls, and 2 hour facetimes between us through the next few months. Unfortunately, I decided to move to Colorado to go to nursing school, and I wasn't sure if we could do another thousand miles between us. Joey easily changed my mind. That's a reason I love him so unbelievably much - when he loves, he loves hard. Anyway, I moved to Colorado for the year 2017. He visited a few times, and I willingly spent my student loans to visit him in Chicago. It was difficult, but at the same time, he was my rock through that year. I graduated nursing school and told my parents that I was moving to Chicago to be with my boyfriend. They were very supportive! In 2018, we started our lives in Chicago together. We spent that year walking along Lake Michigan, trying new restaurants, and really immersing ourselves in the beautiful city. Then 2020 hit, and it hit hard. I was working as an ICU nurse, and Joey was able to work from home with New York Life. Times were tough, but our love grew immensely for each other during that time. I moved into his one bedroom apartment in order to create our quarantine bubble. We did puzzles, had happy hour at his "bar" (the windowsill looking over his street,) and laughed more than we ever had in our lives. In the summer of 2020, we moved in together. It has been the most wonderful, easy life change. Things are just so easy when we are together. He asked me to marry him on July 8th, 2022. He planned for our friend, Alex, and her mom to take us to dinner downtown. I was planning on getting the queso fondido and tacos! Unbeknownst to me, this was all a ruse. We got off the train and headed across the river. Joey got down on one knee and popped the question on LaSalle bridge. It was an obvious YES, and the easiest question I've ever been asked. The icing on the cake was that my friends - Julissa, Abby, and Aubree - were all able to make a surprise appearance. He also planned a surprise after party. It was the best day of our lives... so far. We now live in our apartment in Logan Square. Our dog, Rocky, joined us shortly after we moved in and is literally our baby boy. We love this life we are living. We are so excited to be married and can't wait for all of you to share the love on our special day.