Our Story
Christine and Wes first met on September 10, 2016, on the sidewalk outside Notre Dame Stadium before the ND vs. MSU game. They were introduced by their mutual friend Jackie, who is now one of Christine’s bridesmaids. At the time, it was a quick, passing, seemingly meaningless conversation-the kind that ends with a social media follow and not much else.
Fast forward to 2021. Christine had just started her MBA at Notre Dame and was in Chicago for the Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin game at Soldier Field. She was visiting Jackie, the same friend who had introduced them years before. Wes was trying to meet up with Christine before the game, but somehow they couldn't quite make it happen.
So, naturally, God intervened.
As Christine was walking into Soldier Field at game time, there was Wes - right in her path. It was a pleasant surprise for both of them, and before heading into the stadium, Christine mentioned she would be at Federales after the game.
To her delight, Wes showed up.
One margarita and one ice shot later, the two parted ways and went back to their lives. Christine returned to Notre Dame, and Wes continued his first year of residency in Pennsylvania. They kept in touch here and there over the next year, with no real plan - just enough to keep the door open.
The following summer, in 2022, Wes invited Christine to meet him in Chicago for their first official date. He took her to Pizzeria Portofino for lunch, followed by the Chris Stapleton concert at Wrigley Field with all of his grade school friends. A casual 12-hour first date.
The next morning, before leaving town, Wes asked Christine to meet him for coffee. He told her he wanted to see her again before she left for her second year of business school at Notre Dame.
Two weeks later, he made good on that.
For their second date, Wes flew in from Pennsylvania on a Saturday morning, landed at O’Hare, drove straight to New Buffalo, Michigan, and spent 24 hours with Christine before driving back to Chicago on Sunday morning to fly home.
From there, the long-distance rhythm began. Over the next year, Wes flew in roughly once a month to take Christine on a date. A few Notre Dame football games, dinners in Chicago, weekend visits, and many flights later, what had started as something fun began to feel like something much stronger.
And on the Fourth of July in 2025, Wes proposed in Christine’s favorite place: outside her family’s home on the beach.
What started as a passing conversation outside Notre Dame Stadium became a love story filled with football games, flights, good timing, a little divine intervention, and one very enthusiastic yes.
