Like many couples of their generation, Rick & Ilana met through the dating app, Bumble. They were immediately attracted to each other... enough to "swipe right"! After a few weeks of online chatting, they met in person - Ilana requested World of Beer in the center of West Hartford, Connecticut. They felt something special between them but agreed to take things slowly. After a year of casually dating, Ilana accepted a job offer in New York City, near where she was born and raised. She leased the home she owned in West Hartford, CT, and found an apartment for rent in Rye, NY. Once Ilana moved, Rick realized he loved her and wanted to take their relationship more seriously. Seriously enough to spend every Friday night diving from Connecticut to New York in rush hour traffic visiting her. After only a few weeks of long-distance dating, Rick told Ilana he loved her, and she reciprocated. Ilana only lasted eight months working in Manhattan before realizing it was silly to stay in New York. Not only did Rick live in Connecticut, but the majority of her family had also migrated there. She broke her lease in New York and moved back into her West Hartford home with Rick in September of 2019.

After almost two years of living together, including surviving a pandemic, Rick proposed. Rick planned for them to meet friends in the center of West Hartford at The Cheesecake Factory. Not a fan of chain restaurants, Ilana was a little cranky about the dinner selection but excited to see friends nonetheless. She picked out a casual t-shirt to wear. Rick, who never comments negatively on Ilana's clothing, asked, 'you're wearing that tonight?' She responded confused, 'yeah, it's The Cheesecake Factory.' Rick suggested wearing something a little nicer since they'd be seeing friends. Unsuspecting of his grand plan, Ilana changed. Rick told Ilana their friends were grabbing a pre-dinner drink at World of Beer - next to The Cheesecake Factory. They walked to "meet them" when Rick stopped Ilana in front of the bar. He got down on one knee, reminded her of their first date, presented her with the most beautiful ring she'd ever seen, and asked her to marry him. Ilana immediately agreed. They started celebrating before Ilana noticed someone was filming and taking photos; it was Rick's sister capturing the entire thing on camera! No, they didn't go to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner. Instead, Rick took Ilana to a steakhouse before rushing home to their closest friends, who were waiting there for a surprise party. They met their immediate families the next evening for an intimate celebratory dinner. We're excited to continue the celebration with our family and friends during our wedding weekend at Smith Farm Gardens in East Haddam, Connecticut on October 22, 2022.