Taylor and Nate met on August 11, 2021, at Brewe-Ha’s, a college dive bar in uptown Normal, Illinois. It was a Wednesday during syllabus week at Illinois State University. Taylor had just returned from a trip the day before and spent the day moving into her senior-year apartment. Exhausted and not planning to go out, she was eventually convinced by her roommates to join them for a night out—unknowingly setting the stage to meet the love of her life. Nate, having just transferred to ISU, had also just moved into his new apartment. Thanks to a little persuasion from his friend Adam, he also decided to hit the town. Outside the bar, Nate found himself standing in line right behind Taylor and her friends. Later inside, while chatting with others, Taylor noticed Nate pointing toward her and asking Olivia, “Is that one single?” A few drinks later, the two were talking and then laughing as Nate gave Taylor a piggyback ride down the streets of uptown Normal. The night ended with them jumping into Taylor’s freezing cold apartment pool, all before they had even exchanged phone numbers. By pure fate, they ran into each other again the following night. This time, Nate asked for Taylor’s number. The day before the first day of classes, Nate sent Taylor a text asking her if she would show him around the campus and help him find his classes... and if you know Nate, you know he could care less about finding his classes. That night, they spent an hour walking in circles around the quad learning more about each other. From that moment on, they were inseparable. Taylor’s roommates were always asking when “left-handed PO" was coming over. Between his baseball schedule and her grad school applications, they spent every moment they could together. Nate even picked up a pizza delivery job to help pay for all the dates they were going on! After a few months of deciding if a serious relationship was something the both of them were ready to pursue, Nate officially asked Taylor to be his girlfriend on October 23, 2021, while sitting on the basement couch of her parents’ house. Her response was, “Are you joking?” foreshadowing a similar response to the proposal years later. The rest, as they say, is history. Since then, they’ve built a life full of love and adventure. After graduating from ISU in 2022, they made the move to Tampa, Florida, where they lived in two apartments and adopted their fur baby, Rue. In 2024, they moved back to Illinois, started their careers, and later became homeowners. On Friday, May 2, 2025, Nate pulled off the proposal of Taylor's dreams at Galena Cellars and Vineyards in Galena, Illinois with a breathtaking sunset backdrop after what was a very cloudy and rainy day. Surrounded by the love and support of their families (who were hiding behind trees and cars), Nate got down on one knee. In between many happy tears, Taylor managed to respond, "yes." The two are thrilled to begin this new chapter together, building on their unconditional love that continues to grow every day!