It all started during the final semester at the University of Notre Dame. What they thought was going to be one last getaway with 100 of their closest friends to Punta Cana, turned into a trip that changed their lives.

Ben and Ally didn't know each other yet (although Ben swears he was at one of Ally's parents tailgates a couple of years prior), but after meeting through mutual friends, they ended up dancing the night away at la Discoteca. After returning to ND for the last couple of months of college, Ben and Ally made things official, and by the time graduation rolled around, they had become inseparable.

Although Ben moved back to his hometown of Atlanta after graduation, and Ally to Chicago, their relationship continued to blossom through countless visits back and forth between the two cities. In Atlanta, Ben introduced Ally to his favorite breweries and took her to her first (and second, and third...) Atlanta United games. In Chicago, Ally took Ben on walks by the Lakefront and tried (but failed) to convert him to being a Cubs fan.

Ally and Ben's love for each other grew through their shared love for traveling. In addition to their flights between Chicago and Atlanta, the two went on international adventures to Iceland (chasing waterfalls and the Northern Lights) and Portugal (admiring the miroduoros and enjoying vinho verde in the Azores). They also enjoyed trips to Breckenridge (hiking 14ers and white water rafting with Ben's family), Charleston (meeting locals at the Gin Joint), San Francisco (visiting Ally's MOH and marveling at the Redwoods), Disney World (drinking around the world with Ally's family), and Puerto Rico (salsa dancing until the early morning at La Factoría with Ben's high school friends).

Amid all of these adventures Ally convinced Ben to make the move up to Chicago in August of 2019, after over two years of dating long distance. In Chicago, Ben continued his role as Ally's best friend, and also took on unexpected new roles of quarantine buddy and caretaker (after Ally's hip surgery). While their first year together in Chicago was certainly a whirlwind, they decided to make the most of it by becoming kitty parents to the sweetest, most cuddly, and definitely naughtiest siblings (Sawyer and Winnie), and buying their dream condo in Chicago's West Loop.

On October 1, 2021, Ben surprised Ally with a reservation at a trendy Italian restaurant near their home that they'd been dying to try. After dinner, what Ally thought was a walk to a friend's place for drinks ended up being a heartfelt proposal at their favorite park. To keep the surprises rolling, Ben had all of Ally's friends and family back at their condo to celebrate the rest of the night!

The best part is, the story has just begun. Cheers to celebrating the next chapter together!

Love - Ally + Ben