Even though we went to the same high school, we never really knew each other — it was a big school, and somehow, our paths just didn’t cross. Years later, in 2019, I came across Kasia’s Instagram and instantly recognized her. She looked just as beautiful as ever. Curious, I asked my friend Jordan if he remembered her. He did — and as luck would have it, his sister was hosting a rooftop party that weekend. I figured it was the perfect excuse to reach out, so I sent Kasia an invite. She politely turned me down — her Wujek Adam and Ciocia Agnieszka were visiting from Poland, and she was spending time with family. But I wasn’t ready to strike out just yet. I stayed persistent, took another swing, and asked her to dinner the following weekend. That night, when she walked into the restaurant, something clicked. There was an energy about her — calm, kind, and completely magnetic. What was supposed to be just dinner turned into a night we didn’t want to end. We hopped from place to place around our hometown, talking, laughing, and feeling like we’d known each other forever. That night didn’t just spark something — it lit the beginning of everything. From that first date, I knew I didn’t want a chapter with her... I wanted the whole story.

After five amazing years together, we planned a long-awaited trip to Europe — our first international adventure as a couple. It would be my first time leaving the country... and the longest I’d ever been away from our dog, Bronson. But more than that, I had something packed in my bag that I hoped would change our lives forever. What Kasia didn’t know was that I had every intention of proposing. Before we left, I shared my plans with her mom and dad and got their blessing. From there, we quietly started working out the details — where, when, and how. TSA almost spoiled the surprise. At security, my bag was flagged for inspection. As the agent dug closer to the hidden ring box, I silently panicked — half-expecting to propose right then and there in Newark Airport. Thankfully, they let me (and the surprise) slip through. The first leg of our trip brought us to Poland, where we stayed in Kielce with her Wujek Adam and Ciocia Agnieszka. It was my first time meeting any of her Polish family, and I wanted the moment to be meaningful not just for us, but for them too. They don’t get to see Kasia often, so I thought: what better memory to share together than this one? With only a few days in the country and several beautiful places to choose from, one spot stood out: the historic Wawel Castle in Kraków. Just outside its walls, along the bend of the Vistula River, everything came together. With Wujek Adam nearby to secretly capture the moment, I got down on one knee and asked Kasia to spend the rest of her life with me. And she said yes! That day in Poland — surrounded by family and love — marked the beginning of our next great adventure together.