Mark and Melanie first met in January 2013 at University of Evansville. A couple years later, on February 13, 2016, they saw each other at RiRa’s in Evansville. Mark spent hours working up the courage to talk to Melanie. When Mark finally works up his courage, he found Melanie had already left…. Mark as a last resort messaged Melanie on Facebook. They had their first date on February 16, 2016 at Starbucks. A couple months later, Mark got a new job and had to move to Keene, New Hampshire, for training. Melanie drove to Keene with Mark, and they stopped by Niagara Falls and Boston on the way – the first road trip! Mark and Melanie spent the summer and fall having weekly skype dates, and flew between Boston, Indianapolis, and Chicago to see each other when they could. Mark then moved to Chicago in September, and Melanie moved there in January 2017.

Mark invited his friend Zak (also the Best Man!) to come visit - and secretly told him it was to photograph the proposal. Mark and Melanie and a couple friends went for a walk at Montrose Harbor, and Mark asked Zak to take a picture of Mark and Melanie in front of the skyline. While taking pictures, Mark got on one knee and popped the question! They then went on a walk through the harbor, beach, and park and had an engagement picture session, and ended the perfect day at the dog beach :)