It's New Year's Eve, December 31st, 2019. Bar Louie, in the River North neighborhood, Chicago. Gabby and two of her roommates, Georgia and Kate, bought tickets last minute for the cheapest "all you can eat and drink" NYE bar package. Matt and his big group of friends planned ahead a little better and purchased a table package. They arrived early, right when the bar opened, to make the most of the open bar. Gabby and her friends arrived a few hours into the celebration...but without any festive decorations. Thankfully, Bar Louie had those! beaded necklaces, 2020 shaped eye glasses, noise makers, party hats, etc. The catch? They were on tables; the tables people had rented. But Gabby had to have a party hat. So she looked around to see if anyone was standing near a table that she could politely ask to take one. She turned and saw a friendly looking guy standing near her and near a table. Bingo! Matt will say Gabby saw him and thought he was cute; and that's the reason she approached. Gabby will hold steadfast in her need for a party hat. Gabby found herself chatting away with Matt for the rest of the night, into the new year. At the end of the night, Gabby and Matt exchanged numbers and parted ways. Gabby did not plan on reaching out; after all, she had just told her friends that she wanted to remain single and focus on the rest of 1L year in law school. Matt had other plans. Matt's friends say Matt had a huge smile plastered on his face all New Year's Day and kept talking about "the girl from the bar." With some perseverance, Matt got Gabby to agree to a first date. About a week after NYE, they went to the J. Parker in Lincoln Park, and spent 4 hours talking. And that was the start of it all! A 6 year relationship, in the blink of an eye. Through a pandemic, two years of long distance, a hip surgery, starting new jobs, navigating owning a dog (Hi Jack!), purchasing a fun lake house escape and the remodeling with that, and more. The most magical time with so much anticipation of the life yet to be lived that lies ahead. We cannot wait to have you join us in this celebration. It is an honor to know you and our lives are the better for it. Cheers to May 15! - Gabby, Matt, and Jack