PHEESH SIDE: For me, our love story begins about six months before we matched on Dil Mil. My sister’s friend recommended a book/journal called Calling in the One: 7 Weeks to Attract the Love of Your Life. I still recommend this book to people (who so far have refused to finish it) because I swear by it! It taught me so much about myself and what I wanted in a future partner. Most importantly, it helped me believe my soulmate was truly out there. A few months later, Praveen and I matched on Dil Mil. I distinctly remember scrolling through his profile: the picture that really made me swipe right was one of him doing the dougie! A man that can break it down? Sign me up! A few days after we matched, I got tired of waiting for him to message me first, so I sent him, “What are you most excited for this weekend?” He swears he was planning to send me that exact message just closer to the actual weekend. To my pleasant surprise, Praveen possessed all of the qualities I had written about in my journal, even very specific qualities I had never shared with anyone else! After a few months of texting, which eventually turned into long phone calls, we finally met in person. I will never forget seeing Praveen arrive to pick me up for our first date with a bouquet of flowers and my favorite chocolate: Kit Kats 🙂 Things went so well that by the end of the night, I shamelessly told him, “I think we’re soulmates.” To which he replied, “Wow, this whole time I thought I was more into you than you were into me.” Every day since then, Praveen has shown me that soulmates really do exist. I thank God every day for him…and maybe a little bit for that book, too. ~~~ PREV SIDE: I matched with Phylicia on Dil Mil early one week and was immediately blown away by her gorgeous smile. I found myself at a loss for words, unsure how to start a conversation that would truly grab her attention. So, I decided to wait a few days and planned to ask, “What are you most excited for this weekend?” But God had other plans… That Thursday, Phylicia messaged me first and asked the exact same question I had been saving! Our chemistry was instant. Before we knew it, we had multiple conversations going at once, all filled with excitement and curiosity. It quickly became clear that texting alone wasn’t enough, so we decided to move to phone calls—our connection only grew stronger. I knew Phylicia was different. Looking back, I think I was falling in love before I even met her. For our first date, I brought flowers and chocolate, and I was overjoyed to see that her radiant smile was even more beautiful in person. When she told me that night that she thought I was her soulmate, I knew something truly special had begun. Since then, our journey together has been filled with laughter, joy, and compassion. With Phylicia by my side, life feels richer and more meaningful. There is no one else I could imagine continuing my life with.

The proposal day was everything we could have prayed for – and more – set in the Windy City of Chicago, where it all began. Praveen chose to propose in the very place where we met for the first time in person. As we entered, the room was filled with our favorite love songs, a runway of flower petals, and portraits capturing our relationship over time. The path led to a stunning floral arch, where Praveen dropped to one knee and asked the question that changed everything. Following this unforgettable moment, we were surprised by our parents and siblings for a family-style lunch at Quartino’s – one of Phylicia’s favorite restaurants in Chicago. It was a beautiful time filled with joy, excitement, and love – surrounded by the people who shaped us into who we are today. Next, we enjoyed a photo shoot at the Art Institute of Chicago, the site of our very first date. Returning there felt like a full-circle moment, celebrating how far our love story has come. The evening concluded with celebrations alongside loved ones (including many who traveled from out of town) at the Hubbard Inn. Praveen even made sure the music was filled with our favorite jams! It was truly an incredible day – one that marked the beginning of our forever as husband and wife.