Our story begins at Marquette University, circa 2008. There was a lengthy courtship in such refined establishments as Brad’s fraternity basement, the campus Irish pub, the downtown Irish pub, the other campus Irish bar, and…well, you get the picture. We finally went on our first real date in early 2012 after some not so subtle prodding from our friends (you know who you are). After college, we were quickly tested with three years of long distance relationship - Mary Ann in Milwaukee working as a paralegal, and Brad in Kansas City teaching English at Rockhurst High School. Although tough at some times, absence certainly did make the heart grow fonder. Over those three years, we not only explored our loves of good food, good wine, and good dogs (more on that later), but we also explored what we loved about each other. In the summer of 2015, we reached a point we knew was coming - we needed to be in the same city to figure out if this was the real deal. As Mary Ann’s Dad always admonished her - any goofball can clean up his act for a weekend. Mary Ann made some bold decisions. Not only was she going to move to St. Louis with Brad that summer, but she also decided that we were going to live together. Brad was ecstatic (read: terrified). Turns out, it was one of the best risks we ever took. Shorty thereafter, we got our own furry, four legged companion, Tyler. From there, things took off. Mary Ann began working at Bryan Cave and Brad began his studies at St. Louis University Law School. Over those three years, we fell more in love each day - finding our love of better food, better wine, and our very good pup. And then things got really good…

Mary Ann was not particularly looking forward to her 30th birthday so planning a to host friends at her family’s lake house in Fontana, Wisconsin seemed like the perfect distraction. Meanwhile, Brad was planning the con of the decade - let Mary Ann think the weekend was to celebrate her birthday while secretly planning to propose. Unbeknownst to Mary Ann, Brad flew up to Chicago to one morning to ask her Dad’s permission. With some help from Janie, Joe’s schedule was cleared and Brad showed up to ask one of the most important questions of his life. This visit, but not the proposal, was a surprise to Joe, who insisted there was some other reason why Brad was up in Chicago that day. After assuring Joe that Brad had literally no other reason to be in Chicago that morning Joe graciously gave his blessing. Brad was home for dinner with Mary Ann being none the wiser. From there - it was on. Mary Ann, Brad, and some friends escaped to lovely Lake Geneva for a long weekend. That Friday, an unassuming Mary Ann played the gracious host while Brad schemed in the background for her proposal by looping in a few friends to ensure there were pictures and videos of the proposal the next day. On Saturday, the boys got up early for golf and the girls had brunch overlooking Lake Geneva. Once the groups reconvened, Brad suggested everyone go down to the lakeshore for a “birthday toast.” Brad launched into a short speech about why he loved Mary Ann and before she knew what was happening - surrounded by some of her closest friends - Brad got down on bended knee and asked Mary Ann to marry him. And the rest, as they say, is history…