We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Sam and I have the University of Iowa to thank for bringing us together. Go Hawks! We were both (embarrassingly enough) presidents of our sorority / fraternity, and while it would be nice to say that we ran into each other while studying at the library, we happened to meet one another over a basement keg...how romantic! It’s safe to say that Sam and I had an immediate connection and maintained a very solid friendship that continues today. We can admit now as adults that there were always mutual feelings there, but we did not start dating until almost a year after graduation. As fate would have it, we wound up a few blocks away from one another in Chicago. All our friends got together one weekend and the rest was truly history. Our time together has been amazing. We have done so much, including becoming Bloomington Bocce Ball Champs (with the hardware to prove it), and we are so excited about starting this next chapter of our lives with one another.

2020.... WHAT a year. We booked an Air BnB in New Buffalo, Michigan with a handful of our closest friends for an end of summer getaway. Everyone had been cooped up all year long, and we were finally comfortable enough to get together as a group for a little fun. I thought we were there as an extension of Kyle's (one of the groomsmen!) birthday celebration, but little did I know there was a major surprise in store for me. The first day we got there, it rained all afternoon. Sam was absolutely panicking about the weather and it ruining our plans. I truly had no idea! I was told the plan for Thursday was to go to a "nice dinner", and that we would walk down to the beach to check it out before dinner. Rewind a few hours and Sam and I walked 9 holes on the golf course on what felt like the absolute hottest day of the year, so between the weather and the state of my appearance, there were nerves amongst Sam and the rest of the group to make sure everything went perfect!! I got ready with the girls, as we typically would, and looking back on it I laugh because everyone was doing everything possible to make sure I looked and felt my best. Just as we were getting ready to leave for the nonexistent dinner reservation, the rain stopped and the skies cleared up, creating a picturesque rainbow…what are the odds?! As we walked down to the beach as a group, Sam asked if I wanted to take a picture. I laughed because Sam never wants to take pictures but was thrilled to take him up on the offer. As soon as we separated to take a picture, he grabbed both of my hands, and I FROZE. Looking back on it, I think we were both frozen. After a few words from Sam, which neither of us remember, and a lot of happy tears, we were engaged! I was BEYOND surprised and excited that we got to share this moment with our best friends. The rest of the weekend we celebrated and enjoyed our vacation rental and have continued to be surrounded with love and support every day since. We cannot wait to welcome you all to Milwaukee to celebrate our marriage!