March 2013

Brian and some friends from Missouri S&T planned their senior Spring Break trip to go to Pensacola, Florida. Deanna's sister, Jeni, was one of the friends who was going on this trip. When Jeni realized she was going to be the only girl going to Pensacola, she invited/convinced Deanna to come along as well.

The trip was spent relaxing on the beach and exploring all that Pensacola had to offer. Deanna was oblivious to Brian's interest in her so they just became very good friends and still talked frequently after the trip.

September 2014

One weekend, Jeni and Deanna drove to Kansas City to visit their brother, Marty. While they were in town they decided to catch up with Brian and went bowling. This was the first time in the year and a half that they had seen each other in person since the trip to Florida. Brian and Deanna talked constantly from then on and even began Skyping on a nightly basis. They quickly realized that while the distance between St. Louis and Kansas City would be annoying, it would be worth it, and began dating a week after Deanna went to KC. They were distance for a year, visiting each other almost every other weekend, and Skyping each night. After Deanna graduated from Fontbonne in May of 2015, and did not have a job lined up for the upcoming school year, she decided to take the plunge and move to Kansas City that fall and see where their relationship went.

May 21, 2016

Brian and Deanna had plans to go to St. Louis for a Cardinals game to celebrate Deanna's birthday (a little late because the Cardinals were away the previous weekend). Brian wanted to make this weekend even better, so he began coordinating with Jeni and Katie. The plan was to ask Deanna Saturday before the game, but only if Brian could talk to her parents on Friday night. Luckily, Deanna made plans with friends for Friday night, giving Brian the chance to speak with her parents. Katie made plans for her and Deanna to get manicures Saturday morning before going to Forrest Park. Meanwhile, Brian and Jeni picked up a special order of Gus' Pretzels which spelled out "MARRY ME" (One of Deanna's favorite places in St. Louis). While Jeni hid for pictures, Katie took Deanna to the fountain near the World's Fair Pavilion, where Brian was waiting with the pretzels in hand. Deanna was so surprised she couldn't answer right away, but nodded enthusiastically yes!