It started with a couple of Hinge swipes and a date at a Brooklyn bakery one October night in 2019. The result was a consensus 'mediocre connection' that luckily warranted further exploration. Fast forward a couple of months, and the newly exclusive couple was taking their first trip together to Chicago, complete with Hyde Park tours, pictures at the Bean, and NBA All Star Weekend festivities.

Covid lockdowns and a health scare dominated 2020, where Erika and Bella took care of Ben. The couple played card games, biked the Brooklyn Bridge, and held a masked, quasi-socially distanced kickball birthday party for Erika with all of her friends.

With a newly minted degree, Erika got into her dream Marriage and Family Therapy program at Northwestern and planned a move to Chicago. Ben followed her home after realizing that he couldn't imagine going through life with any other partner and this was the girl he wanted to marry.

After a trial trip to Costa Rica, the travel-compatible couple were ready to hit Japan and visit Erika's family in the Philippines. After Omakases, Wagyu, and a Mario Kart tour of Tokyo, Erika introduced Ben to her closest friends and family in Manilla. Conscious of the mediocre connection Ben generated on their first date, he worked hard on the Tagolog phrase that Erika taught him -- "this is how you respectfully say hello to my friends" she said. Having practiced the phrase in front of a plane full of Filipinos, a taxi driver, and our hotel clerk, Erika finally let Ben know that he needed to stop saying "You f***ing stink".

Back in Chicago, a surprise engagement was a little less of a surprise when Erika could sense how excited Ben's parents were when they left for the ice cream parlor. Unfortunately, plane trouble prevented Erika's mom and siblings from being able to surprise her as well, but that day served as a great appetizer to the wedding we can't wait to share with all of you.