Like all good stories, this one starts at a high school party. Jake was in love. Talia wasn’t sure why this 10th grader kept talking to her. Plus he went to Camp Harlam, gross. (Jake didn’t love that Talia went to Pinemere, either, but he was willing to overlook it). Talia left the party in a taxi – not an Uber, this was 2014, suburbs-style – that got stuck in the snow about one mile away. Ever the gentleman, Jake trudged through the snow to help her (walked? No, trudged sounds more valiant). Maybe he’s not so bad, Talia thought. Jake spoke with some mutual friends, spit crazy game on Facebook Messenger, and bam: he had a date. After both taking the SATs for the first time (yes, Jake took them a year early... and yes, he scored higher), Talia came over to Jake’s house, they awkwardly sat next to each other for three episodes of Prison Break, and then bam #2: he smooched her. The dating continued. Eventually, the word spread so wide that Talia's teacher asked her what she saw in him (true story). Undeterred, Jake told Talia he loved her. If you can believe it, she loved him too. They visited colleges, went to prom, annoyed their families, went to prom again... Then Talia went to Northwestern (Go Cats!). After a third prom for good measure, Jake went to Northwestern too (he did NOT follow her! He really wants you to know that…. Also, he kind of followed her.). Phase two of this story was tailgates, sleepovers, finding their passions (Talia: schooling the youth, Jake: philosophy (really, philosophy?)), more sleepovers, Cozy Noodles, and Andy’s. They traveled to Spain and France, and even better, Skokie. Jake and Talia were becoming adults. Talia moved to New York. Jake went to law school. Both grew far too familiar with the Delta shuttle and the Amtrak Northeast Regional. And they continued to mature, individually but also together. Jake’s family and friends had become Talia’s, and Talia’s family and friends had become Jake’s. Then, after nine years, Jake and Talia moved in together. Jake cooked Talia dinner, Talia taught Jake how to make the bed properly, and Talia tried (unsuccessfully) to convince Jake New York is the greatest city on earth. There was one thing Talia and Jake agreed about: this was right. He proposed and she said yes. In the months since, Jake and Talia moved to Colorado and planned a big party for May 25, 2025. If you’re reading this, they hope you’ll join them there :)