It was serendipitous that we met by "swiping right" on an online app after being neighbors for months, living just three apartment units apart. Shane was moving his things into storage as he was heading to Auckland to see friends and family before heading to Australia, back to Auckland, and Egypt on an international tour for a few months. Meghan was in the midst of directing a school musical and organizing a summer camp, but just two nights before Shane left Nashville, we managed to make a plan to get together, play a game of chess, and get to know each other. There was something about that evening chess match that made us both think, “This could be the beginning of something special.”

We quickly learned that our conversations were easy, our laughter was contagious, and that we had so much more in common than we ever could have imagined. Before we knew it, we were texting, Face Timing, and talking nonstop. Shane even sent a dozen roses on Valentine's Day that year!

late-January-March 2019

Our proposal story is one we will treasure forever. Shane surprised Meghan with a trip to Chicago, a city we both love and had visited before. The day was filled with exploration and adventure. We spent the morning discovering the city, biking through scenic paths and wandering on foot to take in all the sights, including a visit to the incredible Shedd Aquarium.

As the day went on, Shane had one more surprise in store for me. We made our way to North Pond, an intimate restaurant with breathtaking views. Over the course of a delicious five-course meal, we laughed, reminisced, and enjoyed each other’s company. The ambiance was perfect—just the two of us, enjoying the evening.

Then, after our meal in the heart of Lincoln Park, Shane dropped down on one knee and asked the most important question of our lives: "Will you marry me?" In that beautiful moment, with the city skyline as our backdrop, I said yes without hesitation. It was everything I had ever dreamed of.

To top off the evening, we headed to a comedy show at Second City, where we had been the night before. The staff there was so sweet, and they helped us celebrate our big moment with joy and laughter. It was a day full of love, laughter, and surprises—a perfect reflection of our journey together.

14th of September 2024