Our story began in the spring of 2021, like so many modern love stories do—online. We first connected over a shared love of tacos and tequila, which quickly turned into a real-life meeting at Broken English. Nervous but excited, Noelle skipped eating during that first date and went home hungry, yet intrigued by the man she had just met. Intrigued enough, in fact, to say yes to a second date—a scary movie. Even though she hates scary movies, she couldn’t pass up the chance to see Brandon again. From there, everything felt natural. On July 5, 2021, we made our relationship official. Our reserved, easygoing personalities blended seamlessly, making our love feel simple, effortless, and lasting.

Over the years, our bond only deepened. We built a life together in Chicago filled with laughter, quiet moments, and the unconditional love of our pup, Ash. Marriage was always something we openly talked about—never a question of if, only when. Fast forward to September 2025: our annual vacation took us to Italy. True to form, Noelle meticulously planned every detail of the trip, never suspecting that Brandon had slipped his own secret plan into the itinerary. On September 5th, after a long travel day, we wandered through the breathtaking streets of Positano. As the sun painted the horizon, Brandon suddenly knelt down—under the guise of tying his shoe. Exhausted, Noelle gazed out at the sparkling water, only to turn and find Brandon holding a ring, speaking words from his heart, and asking her to begin our next chapter together. It was the perfect surprise in the most perfect place—marking the start of a forever we had both always known was meant to be.