Koshie and Jacob met in the lead up to summer 2015. They had both gotten roles in a show called "Me, Us and Them" as part of College of DuPage's Theatre Program. From there they became fast friends. They continued to go through the program together and were in other shows together. Soon (or so it felt) they finished their time at COD and saw each other less and less as time went by... In 2021, Jacob and Koshie reconnected--because Jacob needed the help on his hinge profile and Koshie had decided that astrology was cool and gave Jacob a 8-page birth chart report. Long hangouts at the park turned into mini golf evenings and drive in movies, and from there they could not deny that they were no longer, "just hanging out as friends". Thus began the lovely start to their story...and after 4 years....THEEEE ENGAGEMENT! Koshie's POV: "I honestly felt it coming that December-though I did not know when. He had surprised me with ring shopping two weeks prior and Lauren (his oldest sister) was VERY adamant we get our nails done before Christmas. The whole day of, Jacob was so quiet and attached to his phone, as well as it took him an hour and half to come home from a Jewel run that was across the street from the apartment! Let me tell you--I made sure I looked the best I have ever looked that night. Just in case lol. The night of the proposal it was perfectly Christmasy. It was the first day of Winter, Christmas lights everywhere, and it had just snowed the night before. We perfectly matched--down to the socks--and taking the longest walk around Lilacia Park I have ever taken after dinner. We finally stopped at a beautiful part of the park by where the old library was in town, and he whipped a card out of his vest and flitted away from me. The card on the back wrote, "this was just a distraction-I'm down on one knee." I turned around and Jacob was in fact down on one knee! I was bouncing around like a ping-pong ball. I even gave the wrong hand to him and then gave both just to make sure the ring would be on the right hand eventually! Perfectly magical night indeed." Jacob's POV: My version of this story starts on our first Christmas. Every year we like to drive around and look at all the light displays at peoples homes. Normally we would finish at the Hinsdale Train Station. That was the first time we ever discussed proposal and at that moment I knew it would have to be Christmas Time. The magic of the season, the glow everything has, the way she looked at the lights. I wanted to take a time of year she already loved and give her one more reason. From there it was just figuring out our lives together. Work and family and friends and well ... Life. And so things continued until roughly June of 2024 when my mother told me to get on with finding a ring because Koshie was "Not the type of girl to wait around forever." (In my defense I had already been planning to ask her that Christmas but it was certainly a helpful kick in the pants.) Then it was months of ring shopping, hemming and hawing over the specifics with the help of my sister, Charlotte and mother-in-law to be, and finally just taking Koshie ring shopping. Then came asking her parents for their blessing. Planning the proposal, enlisting aid from my sister, Lauren, to make sure her nails were done, picking the exact right restaurant and proposal spot. Then came the day, I got a fresh haircut, a bouquet of roses, and a card, because Koshie loves cards. We had a lovely dinner and made our way to Lilacia Park, which is an important place to us that also happens to have elaborate light displays around Christmas. Here's the final hitch. Koshie was in heels and I was not wearing a warm coat despite it being December. And I wanted to be alone with Koshie when I asked. And people would. Not. Give. Us. Space. Finally. FINALLY. I got her alone and I gave her a card so I could get down on one knee and surprise her. And well. Here we are. In love and excited for their next chapter :)