Mike and Kate always seemed made for each other. To those who know them, it's hard to imagine a world in which they don't complete each other's banter. And even in Brooklyn, it's near impossible to find two people so fundamentally challenged to properly pronounce the word "drawer." But it all almost collapsed before it began. On a fateful Thanksgiving eve spent in the shadow of Wrigley Field, Mike nearly found himself permanently outside the Wollman Circle of Trust. Against her better judgment, Kate invited her "not-quite boyfriend" into the belly of the whale, telling him to come by on the night before Thanksgiving to a timeshare where her family was spending the holiday. Unprepared for the occasion, Mike showed up in his best flannel with long, greasy blond hair flowing in the cool Chicago night. After surviving the initial gauntlet, things went south. Trapped when Chicago public transit closed early for the evening, Mike admirably spent the night on the floor, quite literally getting stepped on at 3AM when the prodigal "cousin's friend" stumbled home from the bar. But in the morning, Mike committed a mortal sin. Starving after a trying evening, he stumbled to the kitchen looking for scraps of Special K or Frosted Flakes. However, when he arrived in the kitchen, a bounty of Thanksgiving prep food greeted him. In particular, a plate of fresh-cooked bacon beckoned to him. As he took a bite, a figure appeared from the shadows. It was Kate's mother and she was NOT happy. The floor hippie who *wasn't* dating her daughter just ate the bacon like he owned the place. It was time for this guy to go. But after surviving this trying ordeal, Mike made the best decision of his life, officially asking Kate out on a snowy night in the company of a particularly inquisitive rabbit. And seven years, three apartments (in three cities!), and two adorable Bulldogs later, the following happened......

Buckle up, this isn't your standard proposal story. For starters, Kate sold Mike the diamond! Yes, really. In the Spring of 2017, Mike was a happy single man living with a great girlfriend who needed a swift kick in the rear to fulfill his destiny. Luckily it came from Kate's boss at Bonhams who called to tell Mike about a once in a lifetime opportunity. A diamond cross has come into the auction house with a perfect center stone for an engagement ring in the spot usually reserved for Jesus. It was time to make the move. Mike bought the ring and over the course of the next year, he crafted a nouveau vintage ring. Now, he just had to figure out how to pop the question. In August, the couple left for Europe. After more than a half-hour waiting to enter the Alcazar in Seville, they turned the corner for the entrance- the castle and a lifetime of health and happiness awaited. But so did an impromptu metal detector 20 ft away. Thinking quickly, Mike built a tent out his phone and wallet to cover the ring and slipping it past Kate's ever watchful eye. Having survived the height of Spanish security, Mike took Kate to the courtyard of Spanish royalty and presented her with the ring. So here we are, ready to throw the party of a lifetime to celebrate everyone who has meant so much to us throughout our journey!