WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!!

It's June of 2017. We both swipe right on Bumble. After some back and forth texting, we realize we have a lot in common and it might be worth our time to meet up in person. Of course, because Mike was so great at communicating in those early days, Kailey has to doggedly pursue setting up a date... But against all odds, she makes it happen! We meet up at Edison's in Tremont and end up hitting it off - talking for hours over cheap beers and the best pizza in Cleveland. That date led to a few more and before too long, we were both routinely driving all the way across Cleveland just to see each other. A few months in we fall in love and become puppy parents to our little bebe Bodhi. A couple years in we are buying a house and moving in together. It's been the greatest adventure so far for both of us. And it's so hard to believe we randomly met on a dating app... over four years together and counting, we couldn't be happier.

This was truly the most incredible day of my life. I don't think I can ever be surprised like this again and it makes me heart so happy every time I think about it.... so to set the scene, it's Memorial Day and I planned a cookout at our house with both of our families as a belated birthday celebration for Mike. It was great - our parents and siblings and even Mike's grandma were all there and we were having such a wonderful time. I'm looking all a mess after preparing food and running around all day, clearly oblivious to what's about to happen... After dinner and birthday gifts, Mike walks out into the yard off our back patio, turns to everyone and starts to make a speech. He's motioning me to come stand next to him and I'm side eyeing his sister and saying "what is he doing? why is he being weird?" Then he starts talking about how much he loves me and he's walking towards me to grab my hands... I'm taking a step back as my brain just explodes with the realization of what's about to happen. Before I can truly process what he's even saying, Mike gets down on one knee and asks me to marry him. We got engaged in the backyard of the house we have turned into our home and surrounded by our families - it was absolutely perfect and the tears of shock and joy flowed for hours. I couldn't even dream up a better proposal. And then to later find out how nervous Mike's was and how much thought he put into that moment, I just knew I had found my soulmate and now I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend.

The morning of was here and I woke up feeling confident... Fast forward to the afternoon and I'm a complete nervous wreck, avoiding Kailey as much as possible before our families arrived so she wouldn't get suspicious. Even though I had a good feeling she was going to say yes, I was still nervous wondering if she would want other people around for the actual moment. I decided to go with my gut instinct and when we finally had all of our family gathered around, I managed to settle my nerves and popped the question... and it was the best decision I could've made. Despite almost running away from me in shock, Kailey said yes and made me the happiest man in the world!