Abbie and Perry met on a beautiful spring Tuesday evening in May 2023 in Chicago. Abbie had moved to the city the previous fall—drawn by a sense that something special awaited her there (maybe, just maybe, her future husband). A week or so before that evening, they had matched on Hinge and quickly bonded over their mutual love of french fries. Their first date at Cruz Blanca in the West Loop was easy and natural, filled with effortless conversation about everything from Perry’s love of sports to Abbie’s love of dogs, to their shared affection for Chicago, travel, and their dreams for the future. It was the kind of date that just felt right. By the end of the night, Abbie had a quiet feeling that something meaningful had just begun and she had just met her future husband. Perry, on the other hand, wasn’t quite sure — while he also felt a connection and that this was something special, Abbie’s quick goodbye and famously fast walk made him wonder if she was running away! (He still makes fun of her for it to this day.) Thankfully, he reached out for a second date anyway. Perry asked her to dinner that weekend at his favorite spot, Formento’s. Over Italian food and an impromptu walk through the West Loop, their connection deepened and things clicked. Perry realized that Abbie hadn’t been running away after all – she’s just a fast walker. Since then, their story has been full of adventures—traveling to Italy, Germany, Cape Cod, and the Caribbean, exploring Abbie’s home state of New Hampshire – and finding joy in new experiences together – such as concerts, sports games, and hiking.

On July 3, 2025, Perry proposed on Cape Cod. He had been carefully planning the proposal for months, with both families keeping it a secret (no small feat for either side of the family). Perry and Abbie were on a family trip with Abbie’s family for the Fourth of July. At the end of the two week trip out east, he brought Abbie and her family to Heritage Gardens, where he asked Abbie to marry him in front of a beautiful fountain. When Perry proposed, Abbie didn’t hesitate—it was the easiest “yes” she’s ever said. He feels like home, her calm, and the person she feels safest and most herself with. Together, they’ve built a life that’s equal parts laughter, adventure, and simple, cozy nights cooking dinner together and watching their favorite shows or playing card games—grateful every day that modern technology and one spring evening in Chicago brought them together.