Our story begins in the summer of 2013, just before senior year of high school. Michael was at Stevenson, Brooke at Vernon Hills—two schools only 2.6 miles apart, yet somehow our paths had never crossed… until that summer. One sunny afternoon at Champs in City Park, Michael was mid-bite when Brooke spotted someone she recognized sitting at his table. She walked over, said hello, and casually invited him and his friends to come hang out with her crew over at Liquid Fusion, the go-to spot for suburban pubescent teens pretending iced boba counted as a personality. It was a small moment, but one that changed everything. That summer, we quickly became friends—spending nearly every day together with our new group, hopping between fire pits at the Siegels’, late-night runs to Greg’s Custard, and aimless drives to the record store. Brooke eventually started sending some flirty Facebook messages. Michael, armed with all the emotional intelligence of a bag of croutons, had no idea. Then came the Fourth of July. That night, Michael’s band, Van Buren & Wells, won the Bitter Jester Battle of the Bands. The music, the energy, and the fireworks (both overhead and between us) marked the moment everything shifted. We shared our first kiss, and just like that, the friendship turned into something more. We dated for a short period in high school, building memories together during some of our most formative years. After graduation, life led us in different directions, as we took a break while we pursued college and explored new chapters. But our story wasn’t finished… After college, we reconnected. The connection was still there—stronger, more grounded, and carrying the same undeniable spark that drew us together in the first place. Brooke eventually moved out to Arizona, where Michael had been living since high school, and we started building a life together. Today, we share a home (and a lot of love) with our dog Charlie—also known as Chucky, Chucky Magoo, Charlie Boy, Mr. Pingus, or Boobie, depending on the day. He’s the glue of our little family and always first in line for the lox tray. Lox is his favorite. Not saying he’s Jewish, but he is studying for his Bark Mitzvah. From that unexpected meeting at Champs to planning our wedding surrounded by the people we love most, our journey has been shaped by timing, growth, patience, and love. Through every twist and turn, we’ve found our way back to each other—and we wouldn’t be here without the love and support of those who’ve been part of our story. We’re deeply grateful, and we can’t wait to begin this next chapter together with all of you by our side! Love, Brooke & Michael