Our story began in 2018. Chad and Emily met through mutual friends going to an event at Purdue, where Chad was still attending for his doctorate and Emily had just graduated the year before. Chad wasn't going to attend the event but changed his mind last minute which helped set the course of the rest of their lives.

After talking to each other most of the time at the event, they just knew something was there. Chad was sneaky in asking for Emily's number after getting lost from the group and asked for Emily's number so he "wouldn't get lost again". They spent the next few days texting each other and learning more about each other (more importantly their shared loved of cats). Eventually, Chad asked Emily on their first date. They went to Fazoli's in Lafayette and walked around a park where Emily embarrassed herself by sliding down a hill (always clumsy). That didn't stop Chad from wanting to spend more time with her though. That weekend, he drove down to Indianapolis, and they spent the day walking around White River State Park. It was there that he asked her to be his girlfriend officially and their story begins.

They took turns visiting each other while Chad finished out his residency and he was staying in Northwest Indiana while Emily was in Indianapolis area. Their biggest challenge came when Chad went to London for a few months for his residency. He reassured Emily, though, by surprising her with a box full of Hershey kisses and each one with a note on reasons why he loved her. That moment was when Emily knew he was the one.

A little after a year, Chad got a job in northside Indianapolis and the two moved in together into an apartment in Zionsville. During that time, they both adopted two adorable cats, Brady and Sony. A few months later, they realized apartment life wasn't for them and bought their first house in Whitestown and moved in December 2019. It became a rough year in 2020 not just with Covid, but Sony got sick and passed away. After grieving for a while, they decided in May 2020 to adopt an adorable black kitty named Carnell.

In 2021, Chad got a job in Atlanta, Georgia in which they made a life in a new state with their two cats. It took some getting used to being further away from Indiana, but they enjoyed their time together. Chad working at a pharmacy and Emily working for Target as a visual merchandiser. Sadly, life took a turn and Emily's mom unexpectedly passed away. With Chad by her side, she was able to recover from her loss and got a job working for the Anthropologie in Atlanta doing visual merchandising. As they settled into life in Georgia, Chad received a job offer in the Chicago area.

In the summer of 2022, Chad and Emily bought a house in St. John, Indiana just outside of Chicago. They have called this place home for now being closer to friends and family. On May 5, 2024 celebrating their 6-year anniversary, Chad planned a date in Chicago. He took Emily to see a horror movie (their favorite genre) and ate at one of their favorite pizza places, Lou Malnatis. Afterwards, they walked around Navy Pier and sat on a bench where Chad got down on one knee to propose. He surprised Emily with her dad, his dad, and stepmom coming to celebrate. A few months later, they found the perfect venue at the Barn and Vineyard to become husband and wife. They also are building a house in Crown Point, Indiana to start their new lives together with their cats.