Their Love Story
Where it all began...Shauna McCarthy & Chad Gardner
Their love story is an imperfectly romantic one, a testament to the importance of timing in life and how great things really are worth waiting for...
It all began almost twelve years ago when Shauna was studying abroad in Rome. When she wasn't "studying" or getting her daily gelato fix, her second home was a bar called La Botticella. Chad's best man Joe found his second home there too while studying abroad with Iowa State. A crazy night out over Thanksgiving led Shauna and Chad to their first encounter. And then, nothing. The timing simply wasn't right.
Fast forward to July 2013. They crossed paths at a party in Chicago. Still not quite right. Three more years went by until the summer of 2016, when their stars finally aligned. They matched on Bumble, and some sweet texts from Chad led to a first date over Italian cheese and canned wine in Millennium Park. They knew something was different. Within two weeks, Chad booked a ticket to join Shauna on an adventure in Sicily. Within seven months, he took her back to Rome, back to where it all started, and got down on one knee on a rooftop near Piazza Navona.
"No, but I want to go on an adventure with you the rest of my life."
Cue the tears...
November 19, 2005
The Day They Met
...and made out. An unexpected start to a beautiful story, over too many tequila boom booms in Rome.
June 29, 2016
Their First Date
Shauna came fully prepared with an Eataly spread while Chad kept it classy with canned wine at Millennium Park. After the concert, they continued to hang out — with more wine, of course.
September 3, 2016
Their First Vacation
Just two weeks in to dating, Chad booked a ticket to join Shauna on a trip to Sicily. After navigating the autostrada, jet lag, and language barriers, they had an amazing time and discovered they traveled beautifully together.
January 22, 2017
The Proposal
Chad took Shauna back to her favorite place in the world, back to where it all started: Rome. On their hotel rooftop with views over the city, he got down on one knee. After "yes!" and many happy tears, they celebrated with wine and pizza.
March 2017
Moving In Together
Chad packed his bags and got his own closet. Despite Shauna's piles of clothes, Chad's OCD for organization provides a nice balance. An added bonus: his skills in the kitchen.
