It all began in September 2019, when Katie and Tim found themselves back home visiting their families in Batavia and St. Charles. Both swiping on Bumble, they matched - and the conversation sparked immediately. After a couple weeks of chatting, they decided to meet in person during another weekend visit to the Tricity area. Katie was playing in a volleyball tournament that day, and her team unexpectedly won, making her terribly late for the first date. Tim waited patiently at Stanley’s Ale House, watching Illinois football (a surprise to no one). Katie arrived shortly after halftime, just in time to witness Illinois football’s greatest comeback win in team history.That day, November 9, 2019, Katie and Tim were the real winners. That evening, they agreed to see each other again. For their second date, they went to Top Golf. While taking some swings and enjoying good conversation, an older gentleman next to them remarked, “You two make a great couple, you should get married.” They both rolled their eyes and mentioned it was their second date (though he might have been onto something). After Top Golf, they went to Two Brothers Tap House and did not want the evening to end. Tim returned to Madison, and Katie to Lake Forest. For their third date, you guessed it, they attended a Badger Volleyball match, and Katie was sold. Over the next four years, they traveled back and forth between Madison to Lake Forest, making the most of every minute together. From vacations to hanging out with Murphy and their families, Cubs games, learning to ski, attending concerts, spending countless hours on the lake, trying new beers, and creating their own traditions, they cherished the life they were building together. Katie made the big move to Madison in the winter of 2023. With many changes ahead, they were eager to start their next chapter together. Over the last 5 years, they had attended many weddings together and celebrated their friends and families' love. It was about time they had a wedding of their own, finally. (They heard that a lot). Katie and Tim did it their own way and in their own time and it could not have worked out any better. After a weekend away in Portland, Oregon, Tim went to pick up Murphy who was staying with Katie’s parents during their trip. When he got home, Murph went inside to see Katie and little did she know, Tim had the ring bag attached to his collar under his bandana. Katie was excited to see Murphy and didn’t even see the ring bag at first, but she did catch that Tim was wearing a different shirt than the one he left for work in. It was then she noticed the empty ring bag and that’s when Tim got down on one knee right in their kitchen and asked Katie to marry him. She of course said YES.