Welcome to Our Adventure

It all started with a simple phrase – “how ya doing sweetheart” – well, not exactly, but we’ll get there… Rachel and Stephen met in 2016 when they were both freshman at Marquette University. If you ask them the specifics about when they actually met each other, you’ll hear “we really have no idea.” Rachel always thought Stephen was one of the sweetest guys she had ever met, and her mom agreed. Stephen actually won Mrs. Beilfuss over years before he and Rachel started dating. It all started when he smiled and nodded at Rachel, you know like any nice person who kind of recognizes you would do, while walking back to his seat after receiving communion at the Church of the Gesu 6pm mass on parent’s weekend in 2016. On every academic break since, Rachel never heard the end of “how’s that Stephen guy?” Well...turns out he's pretty great! As they continued with their studies at Marquette, Stephen and Rachel grew to be good “school” friends. The summer after junior year, Rachel and Stephen got to know each other better outside of the classroom while on a service trip to New Orleans, LA. Their vans were paired up at the same work site, and Rachel began to see the loving, self-less, and goofy side of Stephen. At the end of the week, it is tradition to pick a work site crush. Well, in Rachel’s attempt to tell Stephen she was interested in him, Stephen responded “I can’t be your worksite crush, we are already friends!” Clearly that one went right over his head…and Stephen claims he had to make the first move… Needless to say, perseverance is key. When they came back to Marquette for their senior year, Rachel and Stephen continued to be friends outside of the classroom, frequenting MKE Brewing and watching Marquette games at Caffrey’s with other PT friends. In Spring 2020, Rachel and Stephen both happened to be at Caffrey’s for Mug Night ($2 mixed drinks...yes please!) where we get back to the phrase above - “how ya doing sweetheart?” Stephen's friends dared him to say it to the next girl who said hi to him. Well, that girl happened to be Rachel. She was absolutely shocked, not expecting Stephen to ever say that to her, that her only response was “ask me in two more drinks.” Needless to say, the night ended with Stephen and Rachel sharing some quesadillas, excited about what may come next. Two weeks later they had their first date at Mason Street Grill (special shout-out to Stephanie Nichols for letting them borrow her car as Stephen's didn’t start), sharing arguably the best Blue Moon beers they each have ever had while listening to live jazz music. Two weeks after that, the world shut down due to COVID-19, but Rachel and Stephen continued to grow their relationship and fall in love. Together they have supported each other through three clinicals, individual PT residencies over 700 miles apart, and Stephen’s physical therapy fellowship. They are beyond excited to get married back in the city where their love began and celebrate with those closest to them.

With Rachel living in Hillsborough, North Carolina and Stephen living in Chicago, Illinois, there were only going to be a few opportunities for Stephen to surprise Rachel with a proposal. In May 2023, they had two trips planned to see one another. The first to Chicago. The second, to one of Stephen's favorite cities and where Rachel and Stephen really got to know one another "outside of the classroom" as Stephen described their service trip experience in New Orleans, LA. Rachel was convinced Stephen was going to propose in New Orleans, but with her roommate's encouragement, she painted her nails before her Chicago trip anyways...you know, just in case. Thanks to Delaney for that recommendation! Unknown to Rachel, Stephen picked up the ring the Saturday before and met Rachel's parent's outside of Chicago the Sunday before to share his intentions. As Stephen put it he just "had to get rid of the ring as soon as possible" because he "didn't want to be responsible for it." In true impromptu fashion, Stephen decided the morning of May 5, 2023 that he would propose to Rachel later that afternoon after she arrived. He was sure to first take her to an all you can eat hot pot restaurant downtown because nothing goes better with proposal photos than a full belly... Needless to say, when they went on a walk after lunch, Rachel was telling Stephen about how she wouldn't even know when he was actually going to propose because he joked about when and where he would propose too often... Well that one aged well with Stephen getting down on one knee with the Chicago skyline in the background and opening with "yes, this is really happening. I'm really proposing." Shout out to Stephen for not giving away the greatest surprise yet! Rachel said yes and here we are!