We're so excited to celebrate with you!

I first met Joe in the fall of 2016 when I was in Chicago for a work conference. I was living in Atlanta, GA at the time. The Cubs had just won the 2016 World Series the night before and I may have participated in some adult beverages and might not have been feeling the best the next day. Joe was seated next to me at the work conference and kept trying to talk to me....which was not helping my hangover. I brushed him off not thinking much of it. The next day, we were paired to work together at a volunteer event and then decided to grab food & drinks with other coworkers. After leaving the bar, I proceeded to friend request him on Facebook and a few hours later he sent me a direct message asking if I wanted to meet up for drinks that night. From there, we talked every single day, even when I had to return back to Atlanta. The next month when I was home in Bloomington for Christmas, Joe asked if I wanted to come to Chicago so he could take me on a date to Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba (this is where I may have lied to my brother, Matt, that I needed him to take me to Chicago to visit my best gal friends... but that's a story for another time... or feel free to ask Matt about his first time meeting Joe). After that, we officially started dating and I eventually moved back to Chicago the following summer... and the rest... is history.

The day was July 24, 2021....everything all set. Ring secured and snagged from the dresser drawer (Sarah swears she didn't go snooping, but not sure I believe her...). I had the full plan ready with all the legwork down. I'd be proposing on the water at Lincoln Park Zoo which is near the Farmer's Market. This is a spot that is very popular and much prettier than when I scouted it late winter. We had walked back and forth on this path quite a bit when we first started dating and lived a mile from each other, so it's special to us. The Farmer's Market was my excuse to get us there as I really had to get some fresh tomatoes to make soup. Big "tomato guy" I told Sarah, and as everyone knows, they're at their peak during the summer. We drove over and I was very nervous in the car. I can remember essentially the whole drive, which is great, because I don't remember what I said during the proposal... Everything went smoothly. I had to take us on a few excessive laps around the market. I was stalling to ensure the photographer and Sarah's Maid of Honor Jess were ready for photos (I was early, so that's on me). I also underestimated the size of the market. After Michigan blueberries here, and some local honey there, I finally guided us to the spot to propose. I classically got down on a knee (having to put bags of recently procured local goods to the ground) and confessed my love. Again, I do not remember this part, but I do vividly recall thinking, "oh wait, you need to close with 'will you marry me?'" She said yes and the rest was history. We then did all the FaceTimes and went to our first date spot Cafe-Ba-Ba-Reeba to celebrate. From there, I told Sarah we had a few people to meet for drinks and surprised her with many of our family and friends at a local bar in Lincoln Park, Sully's House. It was such a fun day and night, and a great precursor to a lifetime of fun together.