Emily and I started dating in March of 2018, but a lot of people don’t know our first date was actually Valentine’s day 2016. I will start from the beginning to explain how we got here and the large gap between dates.

We went to high school together, and I was aware of who Emily was, but I don’t think I said one word to her in high school. She went off to Saint Louis University and I went to Indiana University. Fast forward 4 years later, fresh out of college my old roommate James Tellus texted me asking if I wanted to go out downtown Indianapolis with some friends. I say yes, and when I get to James and Steph’s apartment, Emily is there. We had a great time and enjoyed the friend group.

Over the next couple months our friends would hang out and Emily and I would always be the last ones at the bar after drinks, so we got to know each other more. We flirted a bit, so I texted her and asked if she wanted to hang out and watch a movie. That also happened to be Valentine’s day 2016. She came over to my apartment and we watched the movie. The movie ended, and I didn’t want her to leave yet so we turned on the Food Network’s “Chopped” for a couple more hours. Still just sitting next to each other. It got to be about 3am and she finally said she had to leave. The entire time I was in my head thinking, “if I make a move is that weird?”, “Does she think we’re just friends?”, “What happens to the friend group after this?”. I never made a move. I instantly regretted it. I wanted another shot so a week or two later I ask if she wanted to hang out again. Her response was, and I will never forget this, “Yeah let’s see what the group is doing!”. A one way ticket to the friend zone. For the next couple weeks, it was a little awkward seeing Emily, but we quickly got over that and became good friends.

Over the next couple years, once again we were always the last ones at the bar talking or last ones awake at her lake house. There was always something between us. January 2018, I asked Emily if she wanted to meet me at a local dive bar Tilly’s pub for a drink. She agreed, then we quickly realized that later that night Tilly’s does karaoke. It got to be about 3am and the night was ending but I didn’t want Emily to leave (sound like 2016?), and I told myself “Steven, you are not letting this happen again.” I asked if she wanted to get McDonalds. We drove back to Tilly’s to get Emily’s car, it was freezing that night, so I told her I would scrape the ice off her windshield (smooth). After I was done, I went in for the kiss, then we both got in our cars and went home. We were no longer just friends. I remember thinking that I am either going to marry this girl or I don’t know if I am hanging out with that friend group again.

We decided to have a more formal first date and met up at Grand Junction Brewery in Westfield. We continued dating for around 2 years and I knew I couldn’t see my life without her. I asked her parents for their blessing in January 2020, bought the ring in February, and planned a surprise engagement party in April. Then the pandemic hit. I had to cancel the engagement party and I knew I did not want to propose in quarantine where we could not hug our parents and friends. I put the ring in my parents safe from February to June. Things started to be looking up, so I organized a surprise engagement party in June. She said yes and here we are today!

E&S

Wedding Day

3:00 PM

Ceremony

5:00 PM

Reception