How we met: Bret and I met working at Target in Iowa together! He was the Electronics Team Leader, and I was the women's apparel Team Leader. We really were not in the same friend group, and only talked in the Team Leader break room, but one time Bret invited me to come over and hang out with a group of mutual Target friends. I had had a couple of adult beverages before coming over to the group hang out, and as some of you know, I am not exactly the quietest person, especially after an adult beverage or 2 :D I came into Bret's apartment loud and no shame, while the group was having a nice quiet hang out. Bret, being more of an introvert and quieter than myself, was not expecting such an entrance but I sure made an impression! (Remember, this is the very first time we had ever hung out outside of work!) After that, we were pretty much inseparable (even though I said I was NOT looking to date!) We moved out to Chicago together the summer of 2019, and here we are, almost 6 years later, getting hitched! THE PROPSAL! :D Bret and I had been talking for a couple of years about getting married someday. We had always said we would like to be engaged by the time we had been together for 5 years. Then this little thing called COVID happened, and although we of course were still talking about getting married someday, COVID had slowed down the idea of getting engaged by our 5-year anniversary. (Which, by the way, I have always had a heck of a time remembering our anniversary date, whereas Bret always remembered!) Or so I thought! Move forward to August of 2023, we decided to at least spend our 5-year anniversary day together and have a nice dinner out. It was a lovely day! We went for a bike ride by the lake and had lunch at home and relaxed, and then got ready for our dinner out. I was QUITE oblivious still, just enjoying the day together! We headed out for dinner and Bret said after dinner he had a surprise for me. I am still totally oblivious thinking the surprise was just a cute gift or going somewhere else for a fun cocktail. After dinner, we start walking down the street and headed towards our fave bar, (we have both worked there full time and part time since moving to Chicago) Elixr/Replay. We turn the corner and head towards the Elixr doors, and the FIRST thing I see is my MOM! I was in complete shock! I go in right away and give her a big hug and start seeing other family and familiar faces. I am still wrapping my brain around what is happening and taking it all in, and then Bret starts talking. He gives the sweetest speech and gets down on 1 knee and asks me to marry him! Obviously I say a big old YES! One of the things I had said I always wanted when we get engaged, is for my amazing friend Lindsey to be there to take photos. And she sure enough was there taking amazing photos! Along with so many special friends and family, many of whom travelled from Iowa to be there! I later find out that Bret had sneakily planned for my Iowa family and friends to stay at the hotel that I manage at! He had worked with the team at the hotel to make reservations for my family and friends under an alias, so I had NO idea it was them. It was the absolute BEST surprise ever. (I am a BIG fan of surprises!) And it was on our exact 5-year anniversary! It was the PERFECT evening surrounded by family and friends celebrating, and we are SO happy and SO excited to get married! :)