We're Getting Married!

It all started one warm Chicago summer evening – July 10th, 2021 – Kira’s birthday, in fact! Kira was out on the town celebrating with her gals. Meanwhile Ryan had just moved to the city with his buddies, and they celebrated the move with a housewarming party that same night. Little did the two know that they had a line of connection to one another. Close friends and roommates who attended the same college led to Kira arriving at Ryan’s front door. Ryan piqued her interest at first sight, as she spotted him from across the room and boldly claimed to her friends: “Dibs”. Oblivious as Ryan tends to be, a not-so-subtle hint of Kira’s interest from a friend got them talking for the first time. From that point on, as they chatted standing over the kitchen island, they knew that they would not stop talking to each other for a long, long time. They quickly fell in love, an organic, instant best-friends kind of romance. Within a month they were officially boyfriend-girlfriend, giddily proclaimed on one late night walk home from a certain Libby Lu themed birthday party. Not a month later did they verbalize that love to one another. Their love only grew from there. It took them all around Chicago, from restaurant to restaurant, neighborhood to neighborhood, getting a slice of what the city had to offer. Their love took them from coast to coast, from a fall break trip to Alaska to a winter getaway in Florida. Their shared love of road tripping led them to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for a camping trip, to Appalachian Ohio where they got their wonderful dog Ollie, and to coastal North Carolina for a spring break getaway. It even brought them to a new state, with their recent move to sunny Florida! Through these travels and adventures, the love they shared blossomed into something deeper. On April 13th, 2024, Kira and Ryan got engaged on an idyllic Chicago day. It was one of those early spring days where the cold finally breaks, if only for a little while, and the city was gifted with a glimpse of seventy-degree weather. The day was quite literally a breath of much needed fresh air, as Ryan grew more and more nervous in the days leading up to the proposal. Under the ruse of picking up Ryan’s graduation cap and gown (that was conveniently absent), they went to the University of Chicago for a day filled with beautiful architecture and delicious southern-style brunch. The end of their day led them to the shores of Lake Michigan at nearby Promontory Point, where Ryan nervously and “subtly” set up a tripod camera for photos. Next thing Ryan knew, he was down on one knee, she was nodding her head “yes”, and they were hugging in celebration! There was one more surprise as that night, they celebrated the beginning of a new chapter with friends and family (and Ollie, of course) at their apartment! This romance has been one of seeking new experiences, challenging each other to be our best selves, and exploring the world around us. The love we have built together has been the greatest gift of our lives. And the culmination of our new chapter is right around the corner! We are so excited to be sharing our wedding day with all of you, and we cannot wait to see you there!