We’re getting married!

Vince and Lara would first meet over a dead body. No – it is not what you think! In the summer of 2014, they became classmates in Governors State’s physical therapy program. Their first semester together would focus heavily on learning human anatomy – including countless hours in cadaver lab. While not the most romantic place to begin a love story, it served to bring them closer together and form a friendship while they tried to survive the sights, smells, and educational hardships one would expect while dissecting cadavers. As second semester began, Lara and Vince’s connection continued to grow as they worked closely together on group projects and spent more time together socializing at class events. It was at one of these events where Vince built up some liquid courage and confessed to Lara that he had a crush on her. Just a few weeks later at a class Halloween party, Lara confessed to Vince she felt the same and they shared their first kiss. Vince and Lara soon began dating and continued to bond over their love of travel, delicious food, music, craft beer, and (of course) great wine. Vince would introduce Lara to new music she never listened to before – giving her an appreciation of indie, rock, and electronic genres. Vince would also introduce Lara to the world of craft beer, and she, in turn, would introduce him to the world of fine wine. Lara would also come to challenge Vince’s taste buds, where he began to enjoy new food he never thought he would – including raw sushi, scallops, and cold buffalo wings. As their relationship continued to grow and mature, so did their professional lives when they graduated PT school in the summer of 2017. Vince and Lara would move in together where they would work to make a home for themselves and their elderly Chihuahua. It was here where they both realized that they had become a family and could not imagine life without one another.

On March 16, 2019, Vince took Lara downtown to see the Chicago River dyeing for Saint Patrick’s Day. Lara had always told Vince she wanted to be completely surprised if he proposed, so he planned everything around this to ensure that Lara had no idea. He asked two of their close friends, who had watched them grow as a couple, to assist with the surprise. When Vince finally found the perfect spot in front of the green Chicago River, he winked to his accomplices to signal them to ready the camera. As Lara posed to take a picture with Vince, he and got down on one knee and proposed. Lara was so excited when Vince asked that she forgot about even putting on the ring and, instead, pulled Vince up to kiss him. These past 5 years as a couple have been nothing but filled with self-growth and love. We are so excited to share our special day with you and cannot wait for this next chapter in our relationship! See you in Sonoma!