Shefali and Christian met on a Sunday in the summer of 2021 at an IIT residence hall in Chicago right before starting two weeks of in-person classes at VanderCook College of Music. They connected quickly, and Christian said it was love at first sight. Ever the realist, it took Shefali a little longer - four whole days - to admit that there was something going on between them. By Friday, at a party that rivaled their undergrad days, they found themselves on the rooftop of their residence hall. Suddenly, fireworks went off above the nearby White Sox stadium. Christian put his arms around Shefali as they watched the fireworks together, and the rest was history. (See below an artist’s rendition of that moment, which Christian had commissioned back in 2021!) On June 18, 2024, Christian surprised Shefali with a beautiful proposal. Completely unsuspecting, Shefali burst into tears as soon as she saw the set up near the water. When Christian got down on one knee, Shefali gave him the most emphatic yes of her life. Over the past five years, Shefali and Christian have built a life and a family together. They bonded early on over their love of animals, and later discovered they were both suckers for stray cats. One dog and four cats later, their family is complete (for now). The couple bought a house in 2025 and have spent the months since doing a DIY renovation which, believe it or not, brought them closer than ever. Thank you so much for being a part of the couple's lives and for supporting them throughout their journey together. They are thrilled to celebrate this next step with all of you by their side!