k&m

On September 9th, 2023, Katie and Mike did what most people do that on a Saturday in Syracuse, go to an SU football game. Mike and his good friend Petey were in Club 44 inside the Dome enjoying a few halftime beverages (tequila shots). Petey invited Katie, her sister Alyssa and longtime friend Kayleigh into the bar. Katie and Mike were introduced via Petey and sparks flew. They spent the rest of the day bar hopping around Syracuse and their chemistry was instant. At the time, Mike was living in Raleigh, NC and Katie in Rochester, NY. Luckily, Mike's new friends in Raleigh (shoutout the Burnett's) were getting married in Rochester the next weekend, 5 minutes from where Katie lived. That next Friday Katie was bartending at her part-time job at Lock 32 Brewery in Pittsford. When they first met, Mike jokingly said he would go visit her while she was working at the bar, but Katie didn't think he was serious. That Friday, Mike showed up to Lock 32 by himself and sat at the bar by himself for 3 hours, just so he could talk to her. The following days they went on a few dates in Rochester to make the most of their time together. Mike flew back to Raleigh once the weekend concluded and they both weren't sure if this instant connection would survive the distance. However, the next 6 weeks consisted of daily FaceTimes and phone calls until Mike finally booked a flight for Katie to visit him in Raleigh. She visited him in October, Halloween weekend. They went out to a local cocktail bar for a pre-dinner drink, and Mike asked Katie to officially be his girlfriend. Fast forward 10 months of long distance and several flights back and forth, Katie was escaping the snow and moving down south. A year later, Mike got down on one knee to ask Katie to marry him on the beaches of Turks and Caicos, with her family there to witness it. They couldn't be happier and can't wait to celebrate!