We're getting hitched!

We met on the very first day of freshman year through the University of Illinois Business Honors program - a small group of about 30 students (and to this day, I still joke that Max must have bribed someone to get in). From the start, we ended up in countless finance classes together, studied abroad in Brazil, and even led a group project side by side - just as friends. (Although Max swears that’s when he first realized he had a crush on me - apparently he liked my bossy side!) For most of college, we stayed friends (a.k.a. drinking buddies), until senior year when - thanks to a little encouragement from mutual friends - Max finally worked up the courage to make a move. Our first “date” was a walk around campus with a stop for coffee, where he kissed me for the first time. From that day on, we’ve been inseparable and haven’t stopped laughing with (and at) each other ever since. Looking back, we both agree - it was well worth the wait.

The Outer Banks has always been my happy place. My family has gone there since long before I was born, and since 2022, I’ve loved bringing Max each spring to my parents’ beach house. I always dreamed of sharing this spot with my future husband - little did I know Max was planning to make that dream come true. On May 3, 2025, during our usual OBX trip with my family, Max told me we had dinner reservations at one of my favorite restaurants. While I was upstairs making my go-to happy hour drink (Aperol Spritz, duh), he suggested a quick walk on the beach. (We never do that, so I should’ve known something was up!) As we walked along the sand, Max began telling me our love story, all the way back to 2017. Before I knew it, he was down on one knee with the most beautiful ring - and a photographer hidden nearby to capture it all. Suddenly, all the little things from earlier in the trip made sense—why my dad and uncle had been avoiding me, why Max seemed so invested in the Kentucky Derby, and why my parents were vague about our plans for the weekend. And just when I thought the surprises were over, we walked back up the dune to find a big “Happy Engagement” sign - followed by Max’s brother, mom, and dad popping out to surprise us. Cue the tears all over again! That “dinner reservation” never existed. Instead, we spent the night celebrating with Carolina BBQ, champagne, and so much love and laughter. It couldn’t have been a more perfect day - Max thought through every little detail. Now it’s my turn to plan the big day!