We're getting married!

Ari and Teresa were both born and raised in St. Louis, and spent most of their childhoods living about 10 miles apart. With their respective families and friends, they visited St. Louis parks, stores, restaurants, and local attractions, never once realizing the other was nearby. Although Teresa went to Cor Jesu Academy and Ari attended Pattonville High School, both were accepted to the Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA), which they attended in the summer of 2007. It was basically a summer camp for young nerds to learn and mingle at Mizzou for three weeks. Ari and Teresa each had a blast, yet failed to encounter one another. Not to worry, though! After transferring from Notre Dame, Teresa joined Ari in attending college at Washington University in St. Louis in the class of 2013. When Ari wasn't studying responsibly for their bachelor's in computer science, they were exuberantly participating in every LGBT-focused college group on campus. Ironically they failed to join the theater group, which is where Teresa was enjoying her time, when not focused on her Arabic degree. During the couple's sophomore year, Ari actually happened to see a show in which Teresa took on the breakaway role of "Sign Carrying Girl 2", but alas, they did not meet. After college the star-crossed St. Louisans went their separate ways for a while. Teresa moved to Washington DC to utilize her degree by working for the CIA. Ari traveled, took up amateur woodworking, and worked at various tech companies. Having tired of her Very Cool and Secret Spy Work, Teresa moved back home, where she taught herself to code, then got a job at Sherpa CRM as a software developer. In January of 2017, Ari turned down an offer to work at Sherpa CRM, despite liking the interview and company mission. Fortunately, the next time Ari interviewed at Sherpa, they did accept the offer, and so on Ari's first day of work, January 7th, 2019, the couple met at last!

Once Ari and Teresa became coworkers, they established a solid friendship. At first they mostly hung out in larger groups of friends, trying restaurants, exploring bike trails, and dabbling in axe throwing. But as luck would have it, they ended up as the only two engineers on a complex work project, which brought them much closer. Finally, at the work Holiday party on December 12, 2019, emboldened by the Christmas spirit (and a few other spirits), the two friends confessed to having romantic feelings for one another. Thereafter the intrepid couple began dating and navigating the interesting situation of still being coworkers. Ari loves northern Indian food, so Teresa suggested Turmeric, a local Indian fusion restaurant, for their first official date. Teresa and Ari were both nervous, fearing their own awkwardness, or that the friendship might be ruined if things didn't work out. But conversation flowed easily, they had so much in common, and everything went perfectly! After that the couple just never really stopped hanging out. Teresa accidentally brought covid back from Colorado in March of 2020, so the couple weathered that together, and then became quarantine buddies. When you only see one other person for months on end, you have to really like them! Fortunately, by then Ari and Teresa had fallen in love. Because Teresa's house was larger, the couple sold Ari's house in the Spring of 2021, and Ari and their two cats moved in with Teresa, her two dogs, and her ancient cat, Gus (RIP, we love you). Since then, the couple has been nurturing their home together, fixing up the house and yard, and generally enjoying absolute domestic bliss.

When you know, you know, and Ari and Teresa knew. Everything in the couple's relationship is based on communication and both feeling seen, supported, and loved. With that in mind, each individual wanted to both give and receive a proposal. Both individuals are also ridiculously picky about their style, so the ring selection was handled collaboratively, to say the least! At last the rings arrived. Not being big on surprises, Teresa and Ari booked dinner reservations in advance for July 16th, 2021 at The Crossing. They put it on their shared Google calendar, and eagerly awaited the big day. When the day finally arrived, the couple fancied up, clasped hands, and set off into the sunset for their much anticipated date. After sharing a delicious meal, poignant conversation, and a feeling of nervous excitement, Ari and Teresa headed to their favorite romantic getaway: their own backyard. Now if you know Teresa and Ari well, you know they occasionally fall prey to procrastination. You therefore might not be surprised that, upon returning home, the couple rushed up to their offices, hastily finished typing out their proposal speeches, printed them, and only then headed to the back yard to share a leisurely glass of port. Surrounded by twinkling string lights and seated on an elegant outdoor couch, the couple made their proposals. Teresa went first, regaling Ari with a hilarious and heartfelt retelling of the two's relationship, in which she highlighted all the best moments of humor and love. Ari followed with a concise six pages, deconstructing Teresa's favorite meme as an allegory for all the things they love about Teresa. The couple exchanged rings and were joyfully engaged to be married.

Although individually well-traveled, Teresa and Ari haven't gotten to travel much together. Both enjoy exploring new cities and trying new restaurants and experiences. The couple has visited family in Nashville, vacationed in the exotic land of Kansas City, and enjoyed the sandy beaches of Michigan. They plan to honeymoon in New Orleans, and when the world opens up again they'd like to travel internationally together. Other than traveling and recovering from wedding planning, the couple's sights are set on starting a family. Both are close with their own families, and really cherish those relationships. They love spending time with nieces and nephews, and look forward to raising a couple kids of their own. As Ari and Teresa embark on their new, shared journey as a married couple, they want to share a surname as well, and have selected Grove. Ari's given surname is Chou (rhymes with "snow") and Teresa's is Grosch (rhymes with "hush"). Grove combines the "Gr" from Grosch, the long "O" vowel in Chou, and mixes in a little love. Ari's first house was in Webster Groves, and the couple is considering moving back to that area when they have children. Teresa's first house was in Tower Grove, and that's the first home the two have shared. (Also "Grove" is easy to spell and pronounce, which isn't why they picked it, but it sure is a perk!) Thank you all for being a part of our story, and for loving and supporting us both as individuals and now together, as Teresa and Ari Grove!