Colleen and Phil had their first date on January 9, 2023 at Lincoln Park's The Bageler, home of Chicago's worst cup of coffee but best bagel. It was a short date (45 mins) and between work calls for Phil and between shifts for Colleen, but it would prove to be the start of something amazing. After several reschedules, they finally had their second date at The SummerHouse for dinner, where they both realized that this was going to be something special!

Soon, they were taking trips to sacred places in each other's lives (Charleston and Kiawah for Colleen, and college football games for Phil).

On December 22, 2023, Phil proposed to Colleen at the famous Botanic Gardens holiday lightshow before celebrating the engagement with both sides of the family in Cincinnati and Chicago during their first Christmas together.

Now, you are a part of this story, and we are so grateful to each of you for your involvement and support in our lives and for our couple/future family!