Thomas and Rachel met through mutual friends halfway through his sophomore year and her junior year of high school. They hit it off quickly and started dating soon after, making memories at homecomings, proms, and everything in between. From the beginning, Thomas insisted they would break up when Rachel left for college—Tempe, Arizona to Dayton, Ohio felt too far apart for the changes they were about to encounter in life—and much to Rachel’s disagreement at the time, that’s exactly what happened in August 2017. Though they went their separate ways, they never fully lost touch. They visited each other’s college towns, cheered one another on from afar, and grew into who they are today. In May 2021, Rachel graduated and moved to Chicago, where Thomas was spending the summer before finishing his senior year. With a little timing and a lot of fate, they reconnected, and by June 2021 they were officially back together. They have been inseparable ever since!
Thomas had been secretly planning an elaborate proposal and celebration for months, determined to completely surprise Rachel. By mid-November, Rachel was convinced it wouldn’t happen until spring—she hadn’t caught a single hint. Thomas told her they were going to a friend’s birthday dinner at a beautiful lakefront restaurant off Fullerton Beach, one of Rachel’s favorite views of the Chicago skyline. They arrived a little early, and Thomas suggested a walk by the water. That’s when he dropped to one knee, and Rachel said yes to forever. The surprises didn’t end there—just down the street, over 70 of their family and closest friends were waiting to celebrate. It was the most perfect night!