In August of 2017, a year after Cameron moved to Chicago, he noticed a very beautiful woman working at the check-in counter at his local gym. After a few weeks and lots of small talk, he quickly realized that if he didn’t ask this girl out on a date, the small talk was going to quickly become awkward and his chance was going to vanish! So one Saturday he said today is the day and mustered up the courage to be extra charming and ask Tanya out on a date.

The first date didn’t start out great. Cameron didn’t make a reservation at the rooftop bar he wanted to take Tanya to and they settled for a dinky dive bar down the street. The bar only served beer which he found out later Tanya didn’t even like, but they both were smiling and laughing together nonstop. Cameron doesn’t remember much from that first date because he was so happy this sweet, fun, and beautiful woman actually went out with him.

Such a small decision at the time turned into something so magical, as over the next 6 years they both fell deeper and deeper in love. It wasn’t without its challenges though. Both experienced huge career transformations; Tanya went to Nursing School and got her master’s degree and Cameron left a job and started a new business. They also navigated the pandemic lockdown, new hobbies, traveling together, and moving in together. But through it all, they always found a way to lean on each other and build a solid and supportive life together.

Then one afternoon, about a year ago, Cameron was walking home and thinking to himself that if something were to ever happen to Tanya, his life would never be the same. It was at that moment he knew he needed to expedite the proposal plans! The perfect place: the beautiful patio at Volo Wine Bar in Roscoe Village which the couple had discovered the summer before. The plan: Cameron dropped off flowers and picked out the champagne before picking up Tanya for what she thought was a typical date night. The execution: The moment Tanya saw the flowers and champagne, she knew something was happening but played it cool. Always a romantic, Cameron was trying to get Tanya to stand up from her chair so he could get down on one knee. She eventually did, Cameron popped the question, and to the delight of each other and their friends and family, she said “Yes!”