Just like every other classic love story, Kara and C.J. met on Bumble. C.J. was out celebrating his friend, Kayce’s, birthday when he unknowingly swiped right on his future wife. He knew he and Kara shared the same sense of loyalty as she had mentioned she was also a fan of the Chicago White Sox in her bio, regardless of their record. Kara took notice of C.J. wearing a Carly Rae Jepsen shirt in his profile and knew he was a “good time” (Kara will see herself out now).

Kara then left on a trip to Miami with her friend, Alyssa, where she was shocked to find that C.J. had followed up with her, asking her how her trip was going. Kara sent a picture of the white sand and blue ocean water while C.J. dug through the trenches of Chicago’s winter. This didn’t thwart him, though, as he eagerly planned their first date at Pequod’s Pizza upon her return. The date went so well that they ended up challenging each other to arcade games at Parrot’s and Headquarters where Kara beat C.J. in skee ball. C.J. allegedly won every other game, but that’s neither here nor there.

At the end of the night, C.J. informed Kara that he would be taking a trip to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras a few days later. Kara was excited to see C.J. again, but told herself “The Big Easy has him now”. C.J. proved her wrong when he called her in the midst of the Bourbon Street chaos and brought her a shot glass back, a tradition they both shared wherever they traveled.

Once C.J. returned from conquering the Purple Drink in NOLA, they soon made their relationship official over French Onion Soup at Bistro Campagne. Their relationship has taken them all the way from the frozen landscapes of Mountain, Wisconsin to the beautiful beaches of Lahaina, Hawaii, and they have brought their lives together in Sweet Home Chicago. As C.J. prepared to pop the big question, the perfect opportunity presented itself with the Niezgoda family trip to Folly Beach in South Carolina. He asked Kara to take a walk on the beach the very first night of the trip where he had to walk face-forward, so she would not notice the ring box in his pocket. They made it to the shoreline, where C.J. dropped to his knee, and thus, began the rest of their lives.

They could not imagine anywhere else to have the ultimate celebration of their love and are so excited to share it with their closest family and friends in November 2024!