Before Ethan and Jen met, in September of 2023, Ethan was living in Japan and preparing to move back to America. Jen was in the habit of praying for her future husband at the time, and actually finished up a 54-day prayer for him exactly one week before Ethan’s flight back to the states.

Shortly after that, Ethan and Jen both joined CatholicMatch.com, and first connected in October. Ethan liked Jen’s artwork, and Jen wanted to hear about Ethan’s time in Japan. They talked over the app for hours while Jen was on Elizabeth’s (the Matron of Honor’s) bachelorette trip, and both felt that they immediately hit it off.

After a couple days of talking, Ethan asked Jen on a date! Their first date was at Cunetto’s House of Pasta on the Hill, and they closed out the restaurant talking for hours. Jen immediately called her friends to tell them it was the best date she’d ever been on.

Their second date was a few days later at Carretas Mexican Restaurant, and once again, they lost track of time and closed out the restaurant talking. On the drive home, Ethan asked Jen to be his girlfriend, and she said yes!

Ethan and Jen dated for almost 6 months before getting engaged, and spent the whole time orienting themselves towards marriage. They had originally projected waiting 12 months before engagement, but by 4 months, both were beginning to feel that their search was over, and began talking more seriously about a future together.

A few days before their 6 month anniversary, the two finished another 54-day prayer together. They began the prayer with the intention of discerning marriage, and had agreed not to get engaged before the 54-day novena was over. The day after it finished, Ethan and Jen met at the Oratory of Sts. Gregory and Augustine for adoration and prayer, which they try to do together most Wednesdays. They left early, and Ethan drove Jen back to their first date spot, Cunetto’s House of Pasta on the Hill. Standing in front of the outside table where they had their first conversation, the two reminisced on their first impressions of each other and how glad they were that they met.

But to Jen’s surprise, instead of giving Jen a proposal (or dinner), Ethan drove Jen back to her apartment, where he proposed by her front door, the place that they’ve always hated saying goodbye to each other. Jen said yes! And after this November, they won't have to say goodbye anymore.

And yes, Ethan and Jen did have dinner reservations that night after all, at their favorite restaurant Favazza's on the Hill, where they shared the best tiramisu in the world.

*Fun fact: the wedding will take place on their 13-month dating anniversary!!

Travel

Hampton Inn St. Charles St. Peters