Becky’s Side

Before Dante, I had stopped searching for “the one.” After spending so much time hoping to find the right person, I decided it was time to focus on myself on growing, healing, and building a life I loved on my own.

Then came that girls’ night out.

My friends Liz and Angie from work, lovingly known as The Meatballs (a nickname Dante gave them that somehow stuck), and I had planned an evening that started with axe throwing and was supposed to be just us girls. But in true Meatball fashion, they had also invited Dante to meet up with us but he couldn't met up until later. He was able to join our little group once the bar hopping had begun and met us at the first bar after axe throwing. By the time we arrived at the second bar, the night took a turn I never expected.

While I was chatting with my friends, I kept stealing glances at the TV. Notre Dame was playing, and though they were down by two touchdowns in the third quarter, I was still cheering like they had a chance. That’s when I noticed Dante watching me. He caught on quickly and started giving me grief about my team’s performance. Saying that they are trash and never play any real teams. I shot right back with my own comebacks, and just like that, our banter turned into real conversation.

The spark between us was obvious especially to The Meatballs. After that night, they kicked their matchmaking into high gear. They planned a marathon celebration at Ron’s Place for Dante, then organized a beer bingo night the following week… and suddenly couldn’t make it. It wasn’t exactly subtle.

Soon after, Dante, with a little encouragement, asked me out on our first real date, to see Halloween, his all-time favorite movie, on October 30th. That’s when things really began.

Some might’ve said we were moving fast, but it never felt that way to us. He introduced me to WWE and took me to my first live event Survivor Series in Chicago and I found myself enjoying it even though I had no idea what was going on. We began training for the Disney World Marathon together in early 2024, moved in together that March, and spent the summer traveling nonstop. We went to Tennessee with my parents, cooled off in the Dells, explored Cleveland for Summer Slam, caught a few Cubs games, and ran races all along the way.

Then in January 2025, we flew to Florida for the marathon, and for a moment I’ll never forget. With Cinderella’s Castle in the background and help from his best man Kevin, Dante got down on one knee and proposed. What I didn’t know was that he had asked my parents for their blessing months before. He picked the perfect ring all by himself, and I couldn’t have dreamed of anything better.

Dante’s Side

Before Becky, I had completely made peace with being alone. I wasn’t jaded I just genuinely thought relationships weren’t for me. I liked my routine, my independence, and the idea of living life solo.

That changed on a night I wasn’t even supposed to be at.

The Meatballs, my hilarious, slightly chaotic coworkers and their friend had planned a girls’ night that started with axe throwing. They invited me to join them but I wasn't able to meet them until after the axe throwing, so I joined them at the first bar along their post-axe-throwing journey. It was nothing special at first just a casual hangout.

Then we got to the second bar.

I noticed Becky from across the table, multitasking like a pro, chatting with her friends while constantly glancing at the TV. Notre Dame was down by two touchdowns in the third quarter, and she was still cheering like it was a tied game. I couldn’t help myself. I started trash-talking her team immediately. She fired right back, and I liked it. A lot.

She was sharp, passionate, and funny. The conversation just clicked. And from the look on The Meatballs’ faces, they weren’t surprised in the slightest.

Once my marathon was out of the way, the girls set their plan into motion. Ron’s Place for a casual “celebration,” then beer bingo night the following week… which they “suddenly” couldn’t attend. They weren’t even trying to be subtle anymore.

Their efforts paid off. I asked Becky, with "a little" encouragement from "The Meatballs", to see Halloween with me, my favorite movie of all time, on October 30th. After that night, I knew she was someone I didn’t want to let go of.

We started dating and quickly realized we made a great team. I introduced her to WWE, and to my shock, she enjoyed it! We started training for the Disney World Marathon in January 2024, moved in together that March, and spent our summer hitting the road Tennessee, Cleveland, The Dells, Cubs games, and race after race. It was the best kind of chaos.

And then came the moment I had been planning for months. With Kevin’s help and Cinderella’s Castle sparkling behind us, I got down on one knee and asked Becky to marry me. She said yes. What she didn’t know was that I had already asked her parents for their blessing, and picked out her ring all on my own. She says it’s perfect, and I believe her.

Our Story Together

We weren’t looking for love when we found each other. In fact, we were pretty set on not finding it at all. But sometimes, life has better plans.

It took a night of axe throwing, a football game comeback that never happened, and two mischievous friends with big hearts and bigger ideas to bring us together.

From football trash talk to finish lines, Halloween scares to wrestling rings, road trips to late-night laughs, we’ve built a story we never expected, but always needed. And now, surrounded by the people who’ve supported us from the start (especially The Meatballs, who take full credit), we’ll begin our next chapter. On September 20, 2025, we say “I do.” To each other. To the love we didn’t see coming.

And to every adventure still waiting for us!