Eric, Lauren's coworker, and now one of her and Nate's best friends, texted her and a group of friends, inviting them to lunch at a Chicago favorite—Happy Camper in Wrigleyville. Eric was living with Greg, who had known Nate forever, since they were both from Kansas City. Nate had just moved to Chicago, so Greg brought him along to the lunch, where Lauren and Nate met for the first time!

The day of the Happy Camper lunch & the first day Lauren and Nate met! The group headed to Old Crow after lunch. This photo, taken by Lauren of Nate and his friends (Cimino on the right is a groomsman!), is some of the only photgraphic evidence of the day.

Just friends! Great day at the infamous Wrigleyville Mustache Crawl. Lauren learned about Nate's incredible dance moves and Nate asked his friends if Lauren was dating anybody.

Nine months later... still just friends! By this point, Lauren and Nate had become great friends—always finding themselves laughing, talking, and dancing the night away together!

Lauren & Nate still mostly just hung out together with their friend group, but they had started texting a lot more than normal!

First date! Lauren and Nate went to Orange Theory, then Luxbar and Butch McGuires!

Nate asked Lauren to be his girlfriend after a fun-filled weekend in Arizona, where they celebrated the birthday of Maddie, one of Lauren's bridesmaids! Still not great at taking pictures just the two of them.

Celebrating their first shared birthday as a couple!! Lauren and Nate were both born on January 24th!

One-year anniversary!!!