8.9.25

Our story starts the way many modern romances do, with a swipe right. Chris had a picture with Santa Clause on his profile which Rachel thought was a sign that he had a joyful heart, and Rachel was obviously the cutest thing Chris had ever seen. The first date was at Taberna, a local Mexican restaurant, where they immediately hit it off. They realized they had so much in common: a love of science, skiing, cozy sweaters, IPAs, Harry Potter, and travel. Going their separate ways that evening (without a kiss!!?), they both knew they had met someone spectacular and were immediately making plans for subsequent dates.

Throughout the next weeks and years, they fell more and more in love. Moving through the ups and downs that come along with medical school and corporate life, they always made time for each other and started their own special traditions that made life spectacular. Chris charmed Rachel and her roommates with his homemade salted chocolate chip cookies. Rachel DECKED Chris's apartment out for Christmas. Chris introduced Rachel to Hamilton which utterly changed her life, now they listen to the full soundtrack every time they drive home from the Marks family cabin (the drive is the perfect length). Rachel showed Chris the depth and genius of Taylor Swift, now they have "Swifty Sundays" every week dedicated to listening to Taylor the queen herself. They had endless adventures together, traveling to the Boundary Waters, Germany (Oktoberfest!), Breckenridge, and across the US for medical conferences, concerts, weddings, and residency tours. They discovered that they traveled wonderfully together, both loving to wander cities by foot, explore cozy coffeeshops and track down local hazy IPAs. After countless Buludo and wine date nights, sunset walks around Bde Maka Ska, brown butter donuts, ski adventures, New York Times Connections, and evenings spent just hanging out with each other, both Chris and Rachel had no doubt that this was the person they wanted to exist with forever.

The story of The Proposal begins with a journey to Europe in celebration of the graduation of Dr. Marks from Medical School. Adventures began in Germany visiting Rachel's sister, Amanda where the three of them traveled around Garmisch skiing the alps, devouring Spaetzle, and drinking RussBier (a combination of beer and Lemonade). Rachel and Chris were on top of the world, but little did she know what was coming next. Next Stop, Lofoten Islands in northern Norway! Rachel and Chris arrived on the chain of islands in the Arctic Circle and quickly found the most divine food and view they had ever experienced (Anita's in Reine) they decided to do a quick hike for sunset. They worked together to find a location (easy-to-moderate according to one Norwegian hiking website) and didn't let the fresh snow deter them from climbing to the summit. 2 hours and 1,500 vertical feet later, through determination and love of adventure (possibly moments of type-2 fun) they reached the summit in time to enjoy the sunset together and Chris found the perfect opportunity to ask Rachel to marry him. After securing the best 'yes' of his life, the two of them slid on down the mountain and quickly made their way to a sauna where they recapped all of the backstories that made the proposal possible. The afterglow of the moment was incredible and included seeing the Northern Lights for the very first time, a shooting star, and a surprisingly open bar where love stories were swapped with the Norwegian bartender (who kept the bar open just for them) over champagne and whiskey sours. An absolutely magical beginning to what will surely be an incredible marriage.