We met on Hinge in early July. The messages that started it all!

You can't send pictures over Hinge messages, so Justin covertly got Grace's number by telling Grace that he had a picture of him at Platform 9 3/4 in England. Grace HAD to see it! We went on our first date on July 10th, 2022 to Fat Rosie's in Downtown Naperville. (Of all the restaurants, we have been here by far the most!)

This was our second date when Justin officially asked Grace to be his girlfriend. We knew even then that this was the real deal! :)

Another picture from our second date!

First (and only so far!) Sox Game

Our first trip to the Jonamac Apple Orchard. An annual tradition now!

We're teachers, we love our apples!

Trunk or Treat at Justin's school. The first of many volunteer events at our schools.

Our first Halloween as Jack and Jill... Fetching pails of water is risky business

Another annual tradition - Santa Con Bar Crawl in Plainfield!

Our first Christmas with Justin's family

And our first Christmas with Grace's family

Marvin and Olive deserved their own picture :)

Our first New Years!

Grace's 26th birthday (our first birthday celebration together) was spent at the Shedd Aquarium... with an unexpected bonus trip to the Field Museum. The perk of being teachers is free admissions to museums!

Justin gets promoted to UNCLE!

Justin's birthday weekend began with a trip to Venuti's with family and friends!

See? Friends!

His birthday weekend ended with a yummy breakfast...

and a flower photoshoot!

Our first trip just the two of us to Nashville, Tennessee. We enjoyed all the night life, great food, and even better company!

We couldn't visit Tennesse without a quick trip to Dollywood! Justin got Grace on her first (and probably last) rollercoaster...

Just a random visit to our favorite bench in Naperville... Little did we know this would be THE spot where we would get engaged!

1 year anniversary celebration of the 1st date that started it all!

1 year together deserved a recreation of the first ever photos!

And this one too of course! Lucky to have a love that celebrates all the important moments! :)

Big family trip to Disneyland in California! Celebrating almost 6 months with sweet Ellie!

Pixar Pier!

Monsters Inc!

At a wedding.... just as guests this time!

Oktoberfest in Downtown Naperville. Honorable mention because this picture is so cute!

Homecoming at ISU with some of the future groomsmen!

Jonamac Apple Orchard round 2 with arguably one of our best photos! Thankful for friends who humor all of our photo ideas!

Halloween part 2.... a platypus?..... PERRY the platypus!

In 2023, we became obsessed with Saddle Up. Here we are at Blackout Wednesday right after learning some super fun partner line dances!

Although Grace has been to the Christkindlmarket many times, this was our first time at the market together in Wrigleyville. It was rainy and wet, but still so special together!

Santa Con in Downtown Plainfield part 2!

Our second Christmas together... this time in matching PJs!

Our second New Years together celebrating with some of our favorite people!

On this day, we unlocked a new obsession: ESCAPE ROOMS! This was our very first escape room at Mind Trap, and we went on to do 3 more throughout the year! We did not "escape" this time, but would be back again soon to try again!

Medieval Times for our soon to be maid of honor Jamie's birthday. Coolest sister ever!

Medieval Times! Neither Grace nor Justin caught the rose from our knight... :(

Told you we'd go back! Here we are celebrating Grace's 27th birthday in our new favorite place with some of our favorite people! We escaped with 1 second to spare!

Part 2 of Grace's birthday at the Brookfield Zoo featuring the Harry Styles hat Justin got Grace for her birthday!

At the last minute we decided to go out for Valentines Day even though we originally did not plan to since it was a week night. We enjoyed a heart shaped pizza and SINGO at one of our favorite places - Freedom Brothers!

The all inclusive Chula Vista trip with more food, drinks, and lazy river in one day than anyone knew possible!

St. Patrick's Day wouldn't be complete without these amazing people!

And of course, had to get a picture with some of the future groomsmen!

Engaged! Justin planned the most amazing and personal proposal complete with our first date bench, beautiful flowers, romantic words, meaningful music, and important people. It was absolutely perfect!

A moment for the ring!

Can't forget THE MOMENT! Thank you to Jamie and Faith for fighting the wind to hold up the sign!

Yes, we both cried!

Back again! This time for Justin's 27th birthday with some more of our favorite people! We did not escape this time...

We officially became homeowners! We found out our offer was accepted the day before we got engaged, then eagerly awaited signing all of the documents and moving into our first home! Nothing quite like waking up and getting ready for work for the first time in your OWN HOME!

Viewing our wedding venue for the first time. Even though we continued researching and viewing other venues for awhile, we knew this place had our heart from the moment we walked up!

Winning SINGO... Who knew hearing "you've got your hair combed back and sunglasses on baby" would be so exciting!

Niall Horan The Show Live on Tour 2024- I see us in black and white Crystal clear on a starlit night In all your gorgeous colors I promise that I'll love you for the rest of my life

Niall Horan with some of our amazing bridesmaids!

Can't forget to visit Fat Rosies on the second anniversary of our first date!

2 years together meant another iconic picture to recreate our second date!

So lucky to be able to celebrate another anniversary!

Our food tasting with the maid of honor! One of the absolute best moments of wedding planning so far!

Look at this gorgeous food! Y'all don't even know what amazing tastes are coming your way at our wedding!

Winning SINGO again for a free pizza!

Asking the maid of honor and some of the bridesmaids!

Although not with Justin present, this was still an important moment in our relationship. Grace said yes to her wedding dress!

Celebrating 9 months until our wedding with My Big Fat Greek Wedding. An absolute classic in the Caldwell family!

Apple picking with an amazing crew!

Practicing our dip for the aisle!

Annual apple picking trip to Jonamac for the third fall in a row!

Lucky to be walking into a future together!

and another bridesmaid!

We finally bought our first piece of furniture for our house - our incredible couch! So many memories already and impromptu naps on this!

Halloween part 3 with Binx and Sarah Sanderson. One of these years we will be an actual couple for Halloween! (Also, should Grace dye her hair blonde? A hot topic after this photo!)

Celebrating 8 months until our wedding with some yummy Andy's ice cream!

Grace says goodbye to the first love of her life. The good old 2002 Mercury Sable was a great car for her for nearly 8 years!

And we say hello to our brand new 2025 Kia Soul! A great new addition in a year full of firsts!

Asking some of the groomsmen!

Another annual tradition - the Great American Dog Show!

Saddle Up for Blackout Wednesday again, and celebrating 7 months until our wedding!

Christkindlmarket round 2 this time in Daley Plaza! After 5 hours of walking around while enjoying chai, pretzels, stinky cheese, and pastries, our toes were still somehow attached, even if we couldn't feel them anymore!

Also, one of our very own bridesmaids got engaged! Congratulations to Faith and Manny! Love celebrating our wedding era together!

Another aisle dip!

and another groomsmen!

Santa Con part 3! Love all our annual traditions!

Group photo at Santa Con!

and another groomsmen!

Christmas round 3 with Justin's family, this time with family matching PJs!

Christmas round 3 with Grace's family!

Celebrating 6 months until our wedding with a dinner at Fat Rosies where we had our first date of course!

Gotta get the ring in there!

Hosting the first (of hopefully many) New Year's Eve party in our own house! Here we are right before entering THE YEAR WE GET MARRIED!

Lots of love for Lauren!

Groomsmen photo!

Celebrating 5 months until our wedding at Gia Mia with some half priced pizzas and mushroom sacchetti!

Celebrating Grace's 28th birthday with good friends, games, and ice cream!

Our third time celebrating Grace's birthday together!

Our one and only Valentines Day as fiancés! Trying a restaurant we always say "I want to try that place" every time we drive by. Complete with a cocktail ON FIRE!

Cake Tasting!

Celebrating 4 months until our wedding with SINGO at Freedom Brothers! We won a ticket for an escape room place!

Celebrating 3 months until our wedding by painting our cake plates! One of our favorite date nights ever!

Our wedding shower!

Our amazing bridesmaids!