…when they met in college at Indiana University.

Brooke was 20 and Nick was 21 when she tweeted that she wished she had someone to talk to about the fascinating concepts she was learning in philosophy class. Nick, just a mutual acquaintance at the time, eagerly responded that he would love to take her up on the offer. Later that same day, they met up and the rest was history. Not even Nick’s “deadly” cat allergy to Brooke’s sidekick cat Micah stopped them from spending all of their time together. (Spoiler alert, ten years later it turns out he isn’t as allergic to cats as he thought!)

Summer was coming, so Brooke decided to accept an internship in Chicago to stay close to her new boyfriend. That romantic first summer in the city featured Nick showing Brooke all of the critical Chicagoan sights and foods. Nick couldn’t believe she didn’t know what a “Chicago beef” or Lollapalooza was, and he made sure to tell her to stop using ketchup on hotdogs. At the end of the most magical summer break, Nick finally told Brooke he loved her on top of the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel.

Brooke and Nick moved in together as they started their Junior and Senior years in college. They shared the smallest room in a house with four of Nick’s friends. That tiny 12’x12’ room housed some of the most special moments of their life and proved all they needed was each other.

Upon graduation, Nick and Brooke got their first apartment in Indianapolis so Brooke could finish her Senior year nearby IU. They adopted their first puppy and became a “real” family. After she graduated, they both finally made the big move to Chicago to start an exciting new chapter.

With the ups and downs of daily life, Nick and Brooke were always each other’s constants. They supported each other as they focused on their careers and eventually bought their forever home in the suburbs of Naperville, IL, where they live now with Micah and their pups Aspen and Koda.

The Proposal
Nick proposed to Brooke on August 2nd, 2021 in Napa Valley, California - one of their favorite vacation destinations. He rented Viader Winery for a private tour and made sure a photographer was hiding in the bushes. After she said yes, the next day they flew to Vegas to celebrate.

Why Italy?

If the name Nicholas Anthony Donato didn’t tip you off, Nick has Italian heritage. Actually, he is 1/2 Italian from his father’s side and 1/4th Polish from his mother’s. Brooke and Nick took their first trip to Italy in 2017 and fell in love with the culture, food, and beautiful sights. They are at their happiest driving around the Italian countryside with the windows down, finding tucked-away cafes for aperitivos, and shopping at local markets to whip up a homecooked dinner in an Airbnb. They can’t wait to share this part of themselves with you!