As fate would have it, Ryan found himself at a Covid wedding in Chicago in May 2021, invited by a colleague he knew from Accenture. The bride, a longtime friend of Shivani’s from pharmacy school, had always dreamed of setting up one of her single friends in hopes of sparking a lasting romance. Ryan's dance moves weren't quite enough to win Shivani over, but a mistakenly "stolen" late-night coffee gave him the perfect opportunity to ask her out for a drink instead. Just a day before Shivani was set to return to Philadelphia, Ryan asked her on their first date, and the rest, as they say, is history.
They quickly bonded over their mutual love for music, sports, houseplants, and great food. Despite their football loyalties—Shivani being a huge Bears fan and Ryan a die-hard Packer fan—they attended their first game together at Soldier Field, where Shivani treated Ryan for his 35th birthday. The couple's shared love for travel led them to Greece in July 2022 for their first big trip together. Ryan, feeling confident about their relationship, moved to Philadelphia in September 2022, and they decided to move in together.
Their adventures continued with trips to the Big Apple, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Florida to visit family. After a few months of living together, Ryan knew Shivani was the one and began the search for the perfect ring. He made several trips to the "bank" for "tax purposes," but in reality, he was only walking half a block from their apartment to find the ideal ring.
Shivani had hoped for a proposal during their trip to Spain and Portugal in June 2023, but Ryan had bigger plans. A month later (and after a near disastrous last second derailing of his secret surprise), Ryan gathered several friends who had flown in and hid in the Planetarium. On a picture-perfect day with the Chicago skyline in the background, Ryan got down on one knee and asked Shivani to marry him at the exact spot where they had first met.
After a resounding "YES!" from Shivani, the couple was further greeted by friends and family in the West Loop to celebrate their engagement.
Ryan and Shivani are thrilled for everyone to join them in Florida to celebrate their wedding in February 2025!