We may not have the biggest or best story around, but we couldn’t imagine our story playing out any other way. Ashley started working at Mickey’s during her senior year of college to make some extra cash, but loved working there so much she never left. Years later, Frank started coming to the pub on a semi-regular basis with friends and family. He always noticed, what he said, was a cute, but short, bartender working a lot of the times he would come in. He never really sat at the bar, due to being with a group of people, so once he moved into an apartment with his daughters in Waukee, he decided to start visiting the pub more alone and would sit at the bar top. It took quite a few visits before Ashley could remember his name, but she always remembered his drink order, a bud light draw with a salt shaker. Ashley started to sit down next to Frank when she would get off working the day shift at the pub, and Frank started asking her to go to dinner with him. She declined multiple times, but finally, one day, she agreed. She met him at his place and he cooked her an amazing steak dinner and even had a bottle of moscato in the fridge for her. (This was back when she only liked the super sweet wines, now she’s a red wine girl all the way!). Ashley and Frank immediately started hanging out more, Frank would even babysit her dog, Tucker, when she had to work longer shifts at the pub. Initially, Ashley would tell Frank that she would never date him, but obviously, she finally gave in. Ashley had always joked with Frank that if he were to ever propose and it wasn’t with a blue raspberry or a cherry ring pop, she would say no. Cut to June 9th, 2023, Ashley and Frank went with their two very good friends, Matt and Sarah, for dinner and a weekend away for Ashley’s birthday. As we were waiting for our dessert to come to the table, Frank slid a STRAWBERRY ring pop towards Ashley. Her immediate response was, well it’s the wrong flavor, thinking the whole thing was just a joke. Then he slid the real ring over and asked if that was better and if she would marry him. Now it is time to celebrate the new Rizzutis! #RizzutiOrNotHereWeCome