Our love story Started on Hinge. Our first date was November 14th, 2023, at Craft Putt, and I'm pretty sure Matt won me over that night. After the holidays,Matt took me to Grunauer, follow by our favorite bar, Green Lady. Then on January 1st, 2024, he asked me to be his girlfriend. Matt always wanted to be a cat person, but somehow he ended up falling in love with my pomeranian, Nala. Honestly, sometimes I think Nala fell in love with Matt even more then I did. Not long after, we started traveling together, making memories in Chicago, Branson,and Disney. I can't believe how quickly time has flown or how much we've experienced together in such a short time. As 2024 was comingto an end, I wanted to surprise Matt for our one-year anniversary. I Planned to take him to the love lock Bridge in Minor Park, where we could put a lock on the bridge together- a little Symbol of our love and everything we had built over our first year.

I wanted it to be more than just a moment. I wanted it to be a place we could come back to someday, look at our lock,and remember where we started, how far we've came, and all the memories we've made along the way.

May 17, 2026, we went to St. Louis for the Cardinals vs. Royals game, a tradition we've had for years. The next day, May 18th, Matt wanted to finally show me around OakGlenn Winery in Hermann. It was something he had been wanting to do with me since we started dating, so l didn't think anything of it or suspect a proposal at all.

The day was pouring rain, but once we got to the winery, it had slowed to just a light sprinkle

—almost like the weather was giving us the perfect moment.

Our photographer was there, but she didn't really blend in.

She even waved at me, but I

still had no idea what was happening. Matt kept telling me to look at the view and then took me to the center of the property.

He started his speech, and as he got a little teary-eyed, I started crying too. Then he got down on one knee and said, "Katie, will you

marry me?"

And of course, I said YES!!

A moment I'll never forget, with my favorite person, in the most unexpected and perfect way.