Alex and Megan met on their very first day of work post-grad - at new hire orientation for Crowe in Chicago. Both were starting out as ERP implementation consultants, and while Megan showed up with her future bridesmaid Caroline Hughes (and enough energy and chattiness for three people), Alex was the quieter one - just trying to survive the day without drawing too much attention. It didn’t take long for them to realize how much they had in common: had both gone to Ohio State, were in Greek life, shared a surprising number of mutual friends… and, apparently, a brother (his fraternity, hers biological). That last one sealed it - Megan friend-zoned Alex almost immediately.

What started as platonic friendship quickly turned into seeing each other weekly: same house parties, same work happy hours, same faces. Over time, their coworkers became “busy” with their own work and those happy hours slowly turned into what our friends lovingly dubbed “one-on-one happy hours” (IYKYK). While we insisted it was nothing, our friends started catching on long before we did - pointing out how we always ended up spending those parties only smiling at and chatting with each other.

Alex finally made the first move in January 2021 - right after Megan gave him a ride home from (you guessed it) one of their “one-on-one happy hours.” Their first official date was drinks at Centennial Brewing in River North, followed by sushi at Tanoshii in the West Loop. A few weeks later, sandwiched between two chaotic weeks of work travel, Alex asked Megan to be his girlfriend.

After nearly 2.5 years of dating (and way too many 20-minute drives across the city), they decided it was time to move in together. Megan dreamed of a cozy Lincoln Park walk-up with white cabinets and zero amenities. Alex, on the other hand, was holding out for a sleek Old Town high-rise with a gym, a pool, and ideally, walkable to work. Naturally, they ended up in a high-rise in the heart of Old Town with espresso brown cabinets, a gym, a pool, a doorman, and three forms of transportation to work. Still, Megan brought her minimal, spotless aesthetic. Alex brought… his PlayStation and grey-blue sheets. And somehow, it all worked.

After successfully adjusting to living with another human, they figured why not add a little more chaos into the mix? Enter: the search for a dog. They found a sweet golden retriever mix on PetFinder minutes after she was listed and decided to put down a deposit and visit her the next day in the suburbs of Chicago. The moment they met Maple, Alex and Megan knew they weren’t leaving without her - despite her shy, timid demeanor… and very strong poop smell. It was love at first sight. Since then, Maple has filled their lives (and apartment) with joy, silliness, muddy paw prints, and the kind of unconditional love only a rescue pup can give.

After five years in Chicago, they were ready for a change of scenery. When Alex got a job with Microsoft, it meant packing up their lives (and Maple) and heading across the country to Seattle. Since then, their love for the outdoors has taken off - summer hikes, fly fishing, and skiing through the winter have all become part of their routine. And while they may have swapped late night beefs for sushi, their love for food hasn’t gone anywhere. From banh mi spots to espresso shops, they're happily eating their way through the Pacific Northwest.

It was a warm summer Saturday in Seattle, and Alex had planned a casual hike for the three of them - nothing out of the ordinary. As they neared the lookout point on Talus Loop Trail, Megan hiked ahead while Alex stayed back to mess with Maple’s collar (which, to be fair, wasn’t unusual - she’s always getting tangled). A few moments later, the two of them caught up… and Megan noticed something glistening on Maple’s collar. Clipped on with a carabiner was an engagement ring. Alex unhooked it, got down on one knee, and asked Megan a very important question. And of course, she said yes.