https://youtu.be/r1UvwXMYFbM.

Although we graduated from ISU (Illinois State University) at the same time, we didn't know each other while we were attending school there. However, we had multiple mutual friends. About a year after graduation, our mutual friends brought us together. We had both attended a house warming party in the city (Chicago) together. There was a small group of us who were keeping to ourselves. It was our two, mutual friends and the two of us. When the time came to head to the bars, I ordered an Uber for myself and one of our mutual friends to leave. However, she changed her mind and wasn't ready to leave to go to the bars. Her response was "I trust Dan. He can go with you." Dan joined me in the Uber and we hung out at the bar for an hour, just the two of us, until our friends arrived. As the night ended, he asked for my number and said he would text me the next day. I rolled my eyes thinking this man I just officially met isn't going to text me. I left the bar assuming I would never hear from Dan again. He ended texting me the next day! A week after that, he asked me out on a date, which brings us to where we are today.

On this particular day, I had arranged for mutual friends to organize a "Friends-Giving" at night in order to have a relaxing day with my soon-to be fiancé. One of my groomsmen, Cory Koelker, his wife Kelsey, and myself devised a plan to have a small group of friends to Cory and Kelsey's place for a chili lunch. With everyone in "the know" about the plans that were actually to occur, Millie's friends and family arrived early for the luncheon. I believed (still believe) Millie did not have any idea of the actual events, because 10 minutes before she was supposed to leave her apartment, she texted me asking if it was "ok" for her to finish her tv show, and then come over. I obliged, and Millie was to be on her way. Upon her arrival, she called, and I said there were some of us having a drink on the rooftop terrace and for her to come up. As she came out of the elevator, I was waiting for her, and led her into the event room, where there were balloons against a backdrop of the skyline that read "Say I Do." I was nervous, so nervous in fact that I hesitated to get down on one knee and forgot all the words to my speech. As she said I do, Millie's friends and family surprised her with their company as they came to join us celebrate our engagement.