We’re getting married!

LINK: Topic: Moving to Marsz Ceremony - Live Time: Sep 6, 2020 02:45 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/97541458443 Meeting ID: 975 4145 8443 One tap mobile +13126266799,,97541458443# US (Chicago) +19292056099,,97541458443# US (New York) Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 975 4145 8443 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/au74DLG9U

Spanish class was a whirlwind adventure, trying to sit through each day and actually pay attention while Zac was over here crackin' jokes, pokin' me and interrogating the teacher. That's where it started. I got a C in Spanish -- no surprise there. I said heck with it and we became best friends. Sophomore Year we had 6 classes together. He was a football player, I was a cheerleader, yada yada. We basically lived in eachothers back yard, we could wave across the cornfield we were so close. There was no way to ignore it. One day Zac asked me under his breath if I'd "go out" with him as I walked him to practice, I anxiously laughed and said yes. Unsure what just happened. He changed his Facebook status that night to "in a relationship" and I had no clue who it could possibly be -- who could he have met in the matter of a few hours? Had he really meant what he said? Apparently I was the one and only -- whoops! We eventually made it official! Took a couple weeks. 6/7/11 was the date to be exact. College came and we rocked it. I wouldn't change those stories for the world! Y'all know who you are - making our college years the BEST we could ever imagine, for saving Zac's life a few times, for hosting the best parties, for traditions like kissing under the bell tower and all the spontaneous adventures through the Quad Cities which may or may have not included jumpin over planes and trains. These were some of the greatest moments of our lives together. He went to St. Ambrose and I went to Augustana, we could wave across the Mississippi river we were so close. Graduation happened and we started adulting in the good ol' city of Chicago. It's been our home now for over a year. He's in Bucktown, I'm in Lincoln park - so close we could wave! You could say Chicago must be the city of love then, but Zac proved that wrong when he made the proposal of a lifetime in the real deal --- Paris.

This is a story that deserves to be long lived, like the lock we left along the Seine. It started with a long weekend trip to France to visit our dear friend, Mathilde. Nothing but baguettes, wine and a good time was to be expected. I sent Zac and my maid of honor, Renee on the next flight. Little did I know there was a ring involved! (or wasn't?) As it turns out, it wasn't ready in time to make takeoff! While Zac and Renee were coming up with a new plan of action, I was packing my bags. Before I arrived the following day, they had already explored the entire city to find the perfect proposal spot and an opt-in for a ring -- never mind jet lag. I arrived without sensing any suspicious activity - except for Mathilde wanting to go to Montmarte for the second time... :) We walked up the hundreds of steps that evening to come up to sunset views, an accordion player and warm sangria -- the night was perfect. But Zac was missing. I ran towards the courtyard infront of the iconic Sacré-Cœur and found him looking out at the Eiffel Tower. I met him, side by side and he dropped to his knee holding a golden lock bracelet along with a lock and key with the words, "Marry Me?" written on it. There were hundreds of people leaning over the fence above us and cheering and chanting in all different languages - it was magical! But it got better. The sun had set and a man playing the guitar performed infront of a massive crowd on the steps of Sacré-Cœur. I've never seen so many people in a public spot. The man called on Zac to come up and perform a song with him on behalf of our engagement and of course, Zac didn't know a single word! He was terrified and I was hysterical. Our lock now hangs along the wall of the Seine near Notre Dame. I collected a Polaroid shot of the exact spot that we will now cherish for a lifetime. Here's to forever, locked-in for life!