We met on the very first day of college at The Ohio State University in August 2017, thanks to Ashley’s random freshman roommate Kat (nearly a decade later turned Co-Maid of Honor). What started as a simple introduction turned into four years of the friendzone (minus two incidents), endless laughs, and never missing a football game - That’s all you Block O!!! 

After years of friendship, everything changed in January 2021. We somehow got cast as the “bride and groom” in a fake wedding for a themed party, which in hindsight feels like very aggressive foreshadowing. Honestly, a real wedding at an all-inclusive in Mexico might not look all that different from a college darty…just slightly better outfits and significantly upgraded drinks (no borgs allowed!).

Before fake marrying Ashley, John felt it was probably necessary to take her on at least one official date. Thanks to pandemic rules, we ended up at what has since become our favorite bar, Short North Tavern — smushed together from the plexiglass dividers. It turned into a long night of catching up after lengthy time apart in 2020, seeing each other in a whole new light, and maybe gaining a little liquid courage from a few Rum & Cokes.

Four years later, John pulled off the ultimate surprise: a scavenger hunt all over Chicago, with our best friends waiting at each stop. And in case anyone thought Ashley was the only performer in this duo, John proved otherwise — channeling his inner Heath Ledger with an unforgettable rendition of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” before getting down on one knee. 

Safe to say, we owe it all to Kat…and a few Rum & Cokes.