Our love story is one for the books, and it was a perfect Match. We Matched on Match.com on November 26th, 2024. Our first date was on the 7th of December at Coopers Hawk in Orland Park. We bonded over our love for whiskey, red wine, steak, faith, and family. Oh, and s'mores... that mountainous dessert at Cooper's was delicious.. Before we knew it (4 hours later, lol), we looked around us and noticed the staff had begun cleaning up for the evening. The first of many restaurants we closed down together, simply enjoying one another's company. Little did we know that was going to be the start of our trend and love story filled with laughter and love. On our third date, we went to the Chriskindle Market in Aurora, IL. There was a scavenger hunt for nutcrackers and my face lit up. Anyone who knows me well, knows I love a good challenge! I knew I had met my match when Tom was determined to find the last one on our list, despite both of us being half frozen and ready to leave. Turns out we had been standing right next to it earlier in the evening, but had gotten distracted by a cute puppy and completely missed it the first time around. Tom was on a mission and found it. He also did not want the date to end so soon. He ended up asking me to 'go steady' that very evening, and we found a movie theater on the way back home. And so we sat in the theater and watched Mufasa together as an official couple on December 21, 2024. As months passed and time flew, it felt as though we had known each other for years. Meeting each other's friends and family, it became clear that we were a match made in heaven. Not only that, every single time even the slightest bit of doubt crept into my mind, God threw yet another sign at us to let us know we were on the right path. In April, we decided to add another member into our lives - this one had four paws, and his name was Duke. I fell in love instantly when he crawled up into my lap and looked up with those big ol' eyes. Tom needed a little more convincing, so God threw us another little sign.. Tom looked down at the paperwork and noticed that Duke's birthday happened to fall on December 21, 2024 - he had been born the very day we became a couple. Tom sighed, smiled, and said ok God, I hear you. Tom and I both enjoy the fall weather and everything it has to offer. We often like to gather by a campfire, sipping whiskey, and I love to hear Tom play his guitar and sing while I listen and try to name the tune. On May 18, my good friend (Katrina) was visiting, and we were actually just coming back from a baseball game in the city. We pulled into Tom's driveway to find him playing guitar around the bonfire in his backyard. Tom started playing some Beatles while we were all outside, and one of his neighbors joined as well. Then Tom said he was working on something new and started playing a tune I didn't recognize right away. It was called "My Very Good Friend the Milkman," in the style of Paul McCartney. The last line of which happened to be "I suggest that you should marry me." I had been intently listening to try and guess the song, and I didn't even realize Tom was getting down on his knee to propose! After the initial shock, and confirming whether Tom had asked my parents for their blessing (little did I know that he had met with my parents while I was at the Sox game - that sneaky man!), I said YES!! Thus, starting this wonderful new chapter in our relationship. Now we get to say "I Do" and join together in Holy Matrimony with all of our loved ones here to witness! Thanks for sharing this day with us! -Madeline & Tom (written by both of us, from the perspective of Maddie)