We're Getting Married!

Travis + Rachel met casually, a chance encounter semi-orchestrated by close friends at the local theatre that they both called home on April 27th, 2018. What was meant to be a slow casual relationship quickly turned into a deep friendship, followed by a sweet blooming romance. They explored cities together, shared nights curled on a bench at the Rock Falls Riverfront talking about everything from movies to politics to food to absolutely nothing at all. They delved into cooking together, building a family together with their three daughters, and joining from two seperate family units into one beautiful blended family.

Travis and Rachel had discussed marriage for some time--he had even purchased a ring right before Christmas 2018. He had planned to propose in April of 2019, marking their anniversary at almost a year to the day. However, his plans fell through due to a changed date, and he wasn't about to wait until July to ask Rachel to marry him. During a day trip to Rockford, IL, Travis began to orchestrate his plan: take Rachel to the Rock Falls Riverfront, walk with her to the bench where he first told her that he loved her, and ask her to be his wife. He began to coordinate the plan with his best friend (and now best man!) Ben, all while Rachel was wandering around shopping or using the ladies room! Ben would meet Travis at the riverfront with the ring, and Travis would then propose. On the way home, while Rachel was completely distracted with something else (re: her phone), Travis texted Ben that they were on the way to the riverfront. About a half hour later, Ben responded that he was on his way to the riverfront....just now leaving Rock Falls. Travis absolutely panicked and had to discreetly call him with a message of firm redirection: "wrong riverfront, you fool!" Thankfully, things were adjusted, and Rachel and Travis and Ben (and Travis's sister, Tiffani!) all arrived at the correct riverfront right around the same time. ...only to discover the entire place had not been shoveled or plowed and was burried in at least six inches of thick wet snow! Still keeping up the pretence, Travis guided Rachel through the snow (in tennis shoes, no less!) until they encountered Ben waiting at the far end of the riverfront. They casually walked back to the bench, where Travis asked Rachel to sit down. That's when it hit her what was going on--she burst into tears as the love of her loved asked her to be his bride forever. Was there ever any doubt what her answer would be? <3