We met sophomore year of college at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (I-L-L!). Ian decided to take an "Easy A" college course, which happened to be Raina's pre-requisite class, Education 201. Little did Ian know, this course would not be an easy A. We knew each other from Illini Hillel and Chabad but it wasn't until the first day of lecture in Education 201 that we really got to know each other. After going on our first date to the local coffee shop on campus, Raina came home confused, not realizing this had been a date! It was only a month later, when Ian formally asked Raina to her very first barn dance (yes, the Illini dance in a barn!) that she actually realized he truly was trying to ask her out on a date. On November 1st 2019, we made things official, unsure what the future was going to hold but excited to get to know each other better. Unfortunately, we quickly became long-distance as Covid broke out shortly after. Ian made every effort he can to come to Chicago, while Raina was too anxious to leave her house during the Covid summer months. We began to fall in love, and were ecstatic to go back to campus together that fall, in our matching face masks, of course. We went on many romantic college dates, all the way from Peoria, Illinois to downtown Champaign, Illinois, with many trips in between to visit Ian's family in New Jersey, and Raina's family in Skokie. After graduating college together, Ian moved to downtown Chicago and the two of us had a quintessential Chicago romance, driving along Lake Shore Drive, shopping along Michigan Avenue, and many lake-beach days (if only to prove to Ian that Illinois does, in fact, have a beach). The following year, Ian had relocated to New York City while Raina was teaching in Skokie. Ian made sure to visit at minimum once a month, while Raina visited New York every school break there was. We took our first international vacation to London and Paris that summer, where we ate more baguettes and drank more tea than we could ever imagine. The following summer we had the honor of joining our friends on a trip to Greece, where we saw the most wonderful views. From this moment on, the two of us began planning our future adventures, including our own engagement, which would happen a year and a half later. Our Engagement Story May 2025, Ian sends Raina a letter that he was being honored at a Jewish federation event. Raina immediately began shopping for a dress for the event and never questioned the integrity of this letter. On the day of the event in New York City on June 9th, we walked into The Strand bookstore and Ian brought us up to the front desk, where he told them we were here for the event. We were brought up to the Rare Books Room, where twinkle lights, music, and a photographer had been set up. Raina said aloud, "Where is everyone? I think we're really early!" Still not realizing a thing. Ian whispered, "There is no event," as he walked Raina over to a private corner of the room. He pulled off a large book off the shelf, Les Misérables (which happens to be one of Raina's favorite musicals), and opens the book to a large hole cut out of the pages. He pulls out a ring box and gets down on one knee (of course Raina said yes)! Ian then surprised Raina by having her family fly in for a special post-engagement dinner with both of our families and close friends. Raina has always loved books and bookstores have a special place in her heart, so this was the dream engagement. The University of Illinois had an admissions event at The Strand in the Rare Books Room when Ian was first considering attending UIUC, where we were first brought together. The proposal was the most special day for the both of us. We are so grateful to have spent the last 7+ years together traveling, adventuring, falling in love, and celebrating life together. We can't wait to celebrate the best day of our lives with all of you!