Caitlin reached out to Zach first through a dating app during COVID in July 2021. Zach wanted to meet the very next day but then settled for a date the following week. The weekend came around and Zach reached out again to get together sooner and suggested a very nice restaurant on a Sunday afternoon for an early dinner. Caitlin met Zach at his place beforehand and they headed off. Dinner was going great despite Zach choosing a squid ink drink that turned his entire mouth black. This first dinner date turned into a 10 hour event. Caitlin and Zach continued to hangout multiple times a week and Caitlin eventually moved in with Zach four months later :)

From Zach's point of view: After 1.5 years, I knew Caitlin was the one. So it seemed like a sign when we went to a Packers game at Lambeau Field and one of her sister's friends was dating a jeweler. We’ve always wanted to go to Costa Rica, so we booked a trip in February and the pressure was on to get a ring. It was the perfect opportunity to reach out to the jeweler that I had met previously at the best place in the world (Lambeau Field.) The ring was created based on what Caitlin had mentioned and what I designed. It finally was ready for the big trip and I had to think of a spot in Costa Rica that would be as beautiful as she is. After much preparation, I found the perfect beach named Playa Junquillal- just south of Tamarindo. I had a private chef and bartender setup a romantic dinner on the beach and that was my cover- I know obvious right? Not to Caitlin lol. She thought we were only doing a romantic private dinner since that is what I told her from the very beginning. The time came to fly to Costa Rica and I had to figure out how to transport the ring without Caitlin seeing it. My bright idea was to put it in a sock in my carry-on suitcase. I was hoping security didn’t make me take it out in front of her. Through 8 days in the jungle, beach towns, and in 3 different hotels I was able to keep the ring hidden and not lose it. The day finally came when I was going to propose. After recovering from what was an exhaustive experience of scuba diving (Caitlin's first and only time for the record) we got ready and hopped in an Uber to the beach. When walking to the Uber, I had the ring in one pocket and it was on Caitlin’s side in the car slightly showing through the shorts. I pulled a little bit of magic getting it the other side pocket without her noticing. After a hour long car ride on windy half paved roads, we ended up on the oceanfront with nobody in sight. Caitlin and I were confused on where to go until somebody came up and directed us to a beautiful setup on a secluded beach that overlooked the water. After a couple of passion fruit mojitos and some ceviche, I started to get restless for the sun to set. Finally the timing was right and I asked if she wanted to walk by the water to digest our meal. During the most beautiful sunset, I got down on one knee and asked the the love of my life to marry me. Little did I know the tide was coming up and I was kneeling in the water getting soaked. She said yes and the rest is history.