Love, Laughter and Happily Ever After

Tori and Jack’s love story starts how many great Milwaukee love stories do; on a brewery tour. Tori, a nursing student at Madison, drives into town to celebrate a friend’s birthday at Lakefront Brewery. That very same friend (shoutout to Darby), invites her coworker Jack along to join her and her friends in the celebration. Tori and Jack met briefly before the tour began, but as the beer (gluten-free in Tori’s case) and conversation pour between them, it becomes clear they have a special connection. The party and conversation then carry to Jack’s apartment, wherewith every sip of whiskey, Tori looks a little cuter and Jack’s bad jokes seem a little more charming. The next day the two connect and make plans to meet in Madison the following weekend. On the date, Tori accidentally drinks a 9% cider and gives a very loud, and very pitchy rendition of Piano Man in the bar. Despite her "performance," they were both smitten and have been inseparable since. Tori continues to sing every song poorly, but Jack, however, no longer feels the need to pretend she's any good.

Fast forward almost three years, two cats, and a couple of duplexes later, our lovers are in the midst of a COVID summer. As their birthdays approach, Tori wants to do a little something to safely celebrate, so she plans a dinner party with her immediate family. It appears Jack picked up on Tori’s not-so-subtle hints of the desired engagement and knew she has given him the perfect opportunity to pop the question. There is an old wives tale that says the only way to get your birthday wish is to blow out all your candles on the first go. The story goes, any candles that still are lit signify the number of boyfriends you have. For Tori, the story seems to be true, as she blew out her candles and turned around to find Jack on one knee, a boyfriend hoping to upgrade himself to a fiance. After an explicit statement of joyful shock to her family who is in on it, Tori says an enthusiastic YES. Now in their new home, Jack and Tori continue to take on renovations and life's challenges, with humor and heart. See you in November!