They met in college at Indiana University Bloomington when a mutual friend introduced them one evening. A year later, their friendship really began to grow when James joined the Indiana University Marching Hundred. Between rehearsals, football games, and late bar hangouts, they became inseparable. By their senior year, they started dating, and have been laughing and living life together ever since.

After college, James headed back to California hoping to find a band director position. Even during the challenges of COVID, they stayed close. After a short break, they decided to give things another try once life started to return to normal. More than a year later, they met up for a vacation in Boston, and it felt like no time had passed at all. When James landed a job in Indianapolis, he was finally a bit closer to Lizzie, who was living in Illinois. Even though they were still apart, they made it work with daily Zoom calls and constant communication. During breaks, James would make the four-hour drive to Chicago a few times a year, and Lizzie would hop on standby flights to visit him. It wasn’t always easy, but they made it work. After two years in Indiana, James got a job in Chicago, and they finally moved in together. After years of long distance and short distance, they were finally in the same place — and the rest is history.

The proposal happened at the Chicago Botanic Garden on June 2nd, 2024. Lizzie actually already knew it was coming thanks to a Bluetooth caller ID from the jeweler that popped up while we were both in the car. So much for surprises! A few days earlier, James had scouted out what seemed like the perfect spot, but on the big day, the place was absolutely packed. The original location was way too crowded, so they wandered off and found a quiet area higher up in the garden. It was peaceful, private, and ended up being the perfect spot. Neither of them could have planned it better. She said yes!