It all started one cold winter a few years ago... January 2018 they said their first hellos on Match.com! Candace's girlfriends convinced her to join and helped her with her profile while Ryan joined after being home alone with the mutts one Friday night.

From there the two talked for days learning about the basics and mostly talking about running workouts. Ryan quickly learned Candace's "local communication job" was not a Comcast Cable Company installer but actually the local TV Meteorologist; and Ryan tried to convince Candace that mortgage compliance was "actually really fun". Ryan's charm pulled Candace in and she agreed to meet for dinner and drinks. Important note that Ryan offered DINNER and drinks.

Their first date was at a pub called Ada Pour House. Candace walked in through the snow and Ryan will tell you her smile lit up the room and captivated him from that moment on. The pair chatted for hours and ended up closing up the pub, but sadly Candace never got dinner. Ryan was too full from brunch earlier that day so food was never ordered.....Candace will never let Ryan forget this.

On the second date Candace and Ryan had a beautiful dinner shutting down the restaurant again talking for hours over wine and Italian cuisine. Date after date the future VanDyk's never stoped laughing and loving every moment together.

From trips to Chicago, Mackinac Island, Florida and Cleveland this couple celebrates life to the fullest! The two fell in love quickly and became quite a team!

Chicago will now forever be a special place for Ryan and Candace. It's where the two took their first get away weekend trip together and now where Ryan popped the question!

One random Tuesday night Ryan came home from work to tell Candace he had a surprise! He planned a trip to Chicago for the weekend! Candace of course did her happy dance and clap while singing and dancing around their house! The next day consisted of lots of laundry and packing getting the two ready for what was about to be a trip they wold never forget!

Their first night in Chicago they enjoyed a romantic dinner at the 95th floor Signature Room overlooking the entire city of Chicago! Ryan got very sappy over dinner kicking off the trip telling Candace all the reasons why he loves her and reflecting on how great their lives are together.

Friday they had the whole day to explore one of their favorite cities and just enjoy each others company! Little did Candace know Ryan was extremely nervous all day long waiting for the planned proposal. They did some shopping and bar hopping around town until Ryan rushed Candace through a happy hour drink in need to get to Millennium Park on the other side of town.

Millennium Park of course houses the famous "bean" where many people take photos and enjoy the city skyline. Ryan pre-planned to have a photographer there waiting to capture their proposal and have a photo shoot with them afterwards.

Candace and Ryan took a selfie in front of the bean and while Candace looked for someone to take their picture Ryan was giving hand signals to the photographer that it was go time. Ryan than pulled Candace over held both her hands and started to say a few words.

Ryan said, Candace, I know I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you...I forget everything else I wanted to say, but I have one question for you? Will you marry me?

Candace said, YES!!!!!!!

From there they had a fun photo shoot all around Millennium Park where they both couldn't stop smiling. Candace was cheesing pretty hard ha!

To top it all off Ryan was able to get Candace's parents to fly into Chicago and had them waiting at their lunch spot. When Candace and Ryan walked around a corner at Cindy's Roof Top there were John and Barb Monacelli waiting to celebrate! Everyone cried and enjoyed some champagne while starting to call family and friends! The rest of the trip included a lot more champagne and plenty more celebrations!