We're getting married!

Our story together is a modern tale of romance, starting in the most digital way possible - on a dating app. We met on Hinge in October of 2019, and had our first date at Kirkwood’s in Chicago on a blistering cold evening in November of that same year. A few pre-date margaritas, a dead phone, Syd’s apartment’s heat shutting off, and a necessary shared ride to drop her off certainly made it a first date to remember for better or for worse, but that was just the beginning. After a few more dates, we were really getting to know each other and knew we wanted to continue dating. Aside from a short St. Patrick’s Day trip to Jamaica for Sydney (in March of 2020) and a quick government-mandated home lockdown due to an international pandemic, we were able to officially start our relationship in August of 2020 and began to know one another more and more deeply. A year of Ricky driving from the suburbs to see Sydney at her Wrigleyville apartment led to a second year of traveling between our respective Lincoln Park and West Loop apartments. Two years living apart was all we could handle, and now we’re into year four of living together in downtown Chicago with our lovable, adorable, super-pup, Sophie. In between then and now there have been a litany of memories shared - drives to Ricky’s home in Elk Grove Village and Sydney’s home in Granger, Notre Dame and IU football games watched, tailgated, and attended, a Gatlinburg trip to meet Sydney's friends, camping trips with Ricky's friends, friend and family weddings we’ve attended together, and a full life built and shared to this day. It’s been a relationship built on peaks and valleys. From international trips to Europe, an engagement in *Argentina* during a Brazil trip, to our many weekends in Miami; through family losses and difficulties, and career struggles, we’ve seen every side of each other. Yet, our love for one another has never wavered and has been present through it all. This is merely a next step in our lives together, and we are just as excited for the big moments like our wedding, honeymoon, and building a family as we are for the small moments like walks with Sophie, deep dish pizza nights on the couch, and hanging out at our favorite local spots near home (coughJeffersonTapcough). We will forever mourn the loss of Blue Agave. This day is a culmination of what has been, and a celebration of what’s to come. We thank all of you who have ever been a part of our time together and we are so grateful for the chance to have you be a part of our biggest day yet. Love, Sydney and Ricky