We met in May 2023, with our first date at Aster Café. When we arrived, we realized there was a bit of a wait, so we wandered over to El Jefe for a drink and some conversation. From the start, we discovered just how much we had in common—our deep love for family and friends, our shared connection to Rochester (Ben growing up there, Cara starting her career as a nurse at Mayo Clinic Hospital), and so many shared interests.

Over the next few months, our relationship grew as we attended friends’ weddings, comedy shows, sporting events, and enjoyed countless dinners and drinks around North Loop and St. Paul. Before long, we were ready for the next step—Cara moved into Ben’s apartment in North Loop. We celebrated our first holidays together, making frequent trips to St. Paul and Rochester to spend time with each other’s families. It didn’t take long for our families to see we had found something truly special.

As much as we loved living in North Loop, we began searching for a home where we could start building our future together. While Ben was on a work trip in Chicago, Cara stumbled upon a house in Richfield that felt just right. Without hesitation, she visited it the next day with her mom and quickly told Ben, We need to make an offer—fast! Ben flew home early to see it for himself, and the very next morning, we put in an offer. In March 2024, we moved into our first home and have loved every moment of making it our own.

With one milestone complete, the next was on the horizon. In the months that followed, Ben began searching for the perfect ring. After visiting a jeweler together, Cara gave Ben a few options (just to make sure he got it right!). Once he had the perfect one, he made a special trip to St. Paul to ask Cara’s parents for their blessing.

On June 28, 2024, along the Mississippi River—a place we had walked together countless times while living in North Loop—Ben got down on one knee and asked Cara to marry him. That evening, we celebrated with our closest family and friends at our home in Richfield, celebrating our future together!

Our love continues to grow every day, and we cherish both the big milestones and the small, everyday moments. We feel incredibly blessed to have found each other at the perfect time in our lives and to be surrounded by such loving support from our family and friends. We can't wait for this next chapter of marriage and to celebrate with all of you!

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