It all started in the city where hopes and dreams begin for so many – Nashville, Tennessee. Rather than pursuing careers in country music, Corey and Taylor had dreams of a different sort: venturing off on their own, in the exciting world of insurance! Corey, fresh off his first job away from home in Indianapolis, and Taylor, recently graduated from Appalachian State University, both took a chance on the city of Nashville not knowing anyone in the area, or what the city really had to offer. While Corey was one year in working for Liberty Mutual Insurance, Taylor had just graduated and was interviewing for a trainee position for the same company. The day Taylor came into interview, Corey noticed her walking by his cubicle and ever so subtly messaged a friend at work with the term “Hired!”. Little did he know he’d be spending the rest of his life with her… It was not a quick process as Corey (being a little bit shy), didn’t work up the courage to talk to Taylor for several months. However, coworkers became friends, friends became best friends, and finally they started dating after nearly a year of pushing aside deeper feelings for each other. It was destiny to be, as their love continues to grow ever since she was “Hired” that day.

We moved to Chicago the summer of 2017 not knowing the city nor any of its neighborhoods –we took a chance and chose an apartment right next to the lake in Lincoln Park. Fast forward two years, a new apartment in a new neighborhood, new jobs, and new friends – we were right back to where we started in Lincoln Park on the morning of May 25th, 2019. This time, we knew the city and Corey knew exactly what he wanted to do – propose in the same area in which we started our new life together in Chicago. He knew Taylor was a tough one to surprise so he enlisted the help of their newly married friends, Derek and Huyen Foster. After several sneaky phone calls and texts, the plan was in place to pull it off. The plan was to meet the Fosters at a lakeside bar to catch up before heading to a brunch to celebrate Huyen’s birthday. On their way to the lake, Taylor received a text from Huyen that the bar had a 15-minute wait. Huyen told Taylor that they would walk alongside the lake until the table was ready. While they were “waiting”, Huyen suggested to take some pictures in front of the Chicago skyline, a prime location. When it was time for Corey and Taylor to take their picture, Taylor almost caught him by asking “Why is your heart beating so fast?”. Corey was caught off guard, so he quickly blamed the 50 degree “heat” for his thumping chest. She bought it and while Corey took off his coat to "cool down", Derek passed him the ring for one final picture. Looking out over the city they now call home, Corey dropped to his knee and asked the most important question of his life… She said yes!!!