Our story begins at a wedding in Zagreb, Croatia in August 2023 that Vana and Kaleb were both attending. Cliché as it sounds, we saw each other for the first time on the steps of the church, and it really was love at first sight. Shortly after attending a 2nd wedding together, Vana drove Kaleb from Solin to Zagreb; a four-hour drive that felt like four minutes. We talked nonstop the entire way and both quietly knew: this was something real.

Back in Chicago, our first official date involved a cash-only restaurant, a frantic ATM hunt, and ended with Vana paying for the date. Since then, we’ve built a relationship around traveling, trying new activities, staying up way too late talking and laughing, being curious about the world, and lots of eating.

In Amsterdam, on a perfect spring day, Kaleb proposed during a private boat ride along the canals. The sun was shining, the water was calm, there was champagne and Heineken, and Vana was wearing a yellow shirt...the same color she was wearing the day they met. It felt like everything had come full circle.

We feel so lucky to have found each other and are so grateful for your love and support, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you and party the night away! :)