Ashley & Zak
May 28th, 2027 • Sorrento, Italy
Please join us for our wedding in Sorrento Italy
on May 28th, 2027
Our Story
Ashley was trying The Lodge for the first time. Zak was there for what felt like the hundredth. Somehow, that made all the difference.
On Memorial Day 2021, Zak was spending the day out with friends at The Lodge, one of Chicago's most infamous neighborhood bars. Ashley was enjoying the long weekend too, brunching with friends and making spontaneous plans for the rest of the day. Someone suggested heading to The Lodge. It was Ashley's first time there.
When they arrived, the bar was surprisingly quiet for a holiday weekend. With only a handful of people there, the two friend groups naturally started talking and quickly hit it off. What began as casual conversation between strangers turned into hours of laughing, sharing stories, and getting to know one another.
There was an immediate connection. By the end of the day, neither of them wanted the conversation to end.
From that day forward, Ashley and Zak were inseparable. Through countless adventures, celebrations, challenges, and everyday moments, they built a life together grounded in friendship, laughter, and love.
Looking back, it's hard to believe that one spontaneous decision on a holiday weekend led them to each other. But sometimes the best love stories begin exactly when and where you least expect them.
The Proposal
On November 24, 2025, while traveling through Seville, Spain, Zak asked Ashley to marry him.
That morning, we set out to explore Parque de María Luisa, Seville's beautiful and historic green space along the Guadalquivir River. The air was crisp, the gardens were quiet, and we spent the morning wandering among fountains, colorful flowers, and perfectly manicured hedges.
What Ashley didn't know was that Zak had been carrying the ring in his pocket the entire time.
As they explored the park, Zak spotted a picturesque waterfall and suggested they climb to the top for a better view. Once they reached the top, Ashley turned around and found Zak down on one knee.
Zak delivered a heartfelt speech about the life they had built together, their future, and everything he loved about Ashley. Unfortunately, Ashley remembers very little of it. Overcome with surprise and emotion, she completely blacked out during the moment. The only words she distinctly remembers hearing were:
"I love you, and I love Rory, and I love our life... will you marry me?"
The answer, of course, was an enthusiastic yes.
What began with a chance meeting at a neighborhood bar in Chicago led to a beautiful morning in Spain, where they promised to spend the rest of their lives together.
Why Sorrento?
When it came time to choose where we wanted to celebrate our wedding, Sorrento felt like the perfect choice.
We first visited Sorrento in September 2023 while traveling through Italy with Zak's family. Although Sorrento served as our home base for exploring the Amalfi Coast, we spent most of our days venturing off to nearby towns and islands. By the time the trip ended, we realized we had fallen in love with the region, but hadn't spent nearly enough time enjoying Sorrento itself.
What drew us back was everything that makes Sorrento special. It's lively and full of energy, yet still feels relaxed and authentically Italian. The town is incredibly walkable, with charming streets, beautiful views of the coastline, welcoming piazzas, countless places to enjoy a glass of wine or a leisurely meal, and cute places to shop filled with everything lemon.
We also love that Sorrento is easy to reach and serves as a gateway to so many incredible destinations. Whether arriving by train, ferry, or continuing on to other parts of Italy and Europe, it felt like the perfect place for us to gather with our favorite people and turn a wedding into an unforgettable vacation.
And if we're being honest, the decision became even easier when we considered the endless Italian food, local wine, and stunning coastal scenery.
Sorrento combines so many things we love - beauty, adventure, incredible food and wine, and time spent with family and friends. We can't imagine a better place to begin this next chapter together, and we're so excited to share it with all of you!
