We've been together for over four years, but we've known each other a lot longer than that. Thanks to Kate's cousin Dee, we crossed paths at a few parties between 2011 and 2012. We started off as mere acquaintances, then became friends after a St. Patrick's Day party in 2013. We shared a lot of mutual friends, so we became closer as time went on. By 2014 we were spending almost every weekend together, and developed massive "secret" crushes on each other. Tim moved to the same neighborhood in the Summer, and when we weren't together, we were either texting or sending flirty snapchats. Looking back, we were both scared of messing up our friendship, but it was so OBVIOUS that we were falling for each other. Finally after basically an entire year of both of us being too scared to make the first move, Kate decided it was now or never. On Christmas weekend, Kate kissed Tim and a few weeks later they made it official.

Tim and I love trying new restaurants, so I didn't think anything of it when he made reservations for us at The Gage downtown on Michigan Ave. I spent the afternoon lounging around, watching Say Yes to the Dress, completely oblivious to what was coming. While getting ready for dinner, I started noticing little things that were odd. Tim told me to dress in my favorite outfit. He was acting a little nervous. My grandma who lives in Florida accidentally sent a group snapchat to all the grand kids that looked like she was sitting in my aunt's living room in Indiana. "Why did she come home and not tell me?" I thought. Since mother's day was the next day, I assumed she was surprising everyone and I shouldn't ruin it or everyone. I brushed it off. After dinner we stepped outside and Tim told me that he got us a reservation at the Hilton Chicago for the night, which is the hotel we used to stay at for fun when we first started dating. That's when I started to get really suspicious, and even though the hotel was just a couple blocks away, the walk felt like an eternity. My heart was pounding and Tim's hands were getting sweaty. Once we got off the elevator on the 25th floor, he stopped me and said "before we go to our room there's something I want to ask you". That's when I saw the ring box in his hand, and I couldn't breathe. I immediately started crying and when he tried to get down on one knee I was so overwhelmed that I kept backing away, which led to him having to ask the question standing up. My bad! After, I noticed a photographer and videographer capturing the moment. I'm so grateful the world's most awkward and perfect proposal is forever documented. After we had a minute to ourselves, Tim walked me into an insane two bedroom suite overlooking Lake Michigan, filled with our families. It was absolutely perfect.