Some love stories begin with a spark. Ours began with persistence—or rather, with our dear friend Tiffani, who spent years gently nudging us toward each other. Brad was always open to the idea, but Laura… not so much. Despite Tiffani’s encouragement, Laura continued to say “no” for months and even years.

Finally, in September 2024, fate (and Tiffani’s patience) worked its magic, and we met. But Brad, in his thoughtful and steady way, didn’t rush. He wanted our first date to feel just right, and so it wasn’t until December 7, 2024 that we officially sat down across from each other. That timing turned out to be perfect.

Brad knew very quickly—by the second date, in fact—that he had found someone special. For Laura, the moment her heart opened fully was when she met Brad’s parents and his daughter, Grace. It was there she saw not just the man he was, but the family she could see herself becoming a part of.

On December 28, 2024, as we watched Harmonious light up the night sky from EPCOT’s Italy pavilion, Laura was the first to say “I love you.” From that night on, we were inseparable—always finding ways to weave our schedules together, or at the very least, be near each other.

By mid-December, Laura already knew Brad was the one. However, she carried that certainty quietly, and by January she shared it aloud one evening at the Polynesian Resort. Brad, however, played the “long game,” keeping his own plans tucked away for the perfect proposal.

That moment came on August 1, 2025, in Chicago—a day filled with sunshine, a Cubs game, and a walk along the beach. There, with the lake sparkling behind them, Brad asked Laura to marry him. And just like that, the chapter Tiffani had been waiting years to see unfold had its beautiful beginning.

B&L

Wedding Day