Claire and Michael first met in August 2019 at Hook and Ladder, a bar in Chicago, when a random cowboy hat sat between them on the bar. Michael turned and said, “That hat would look good on you,” a fitting line since Claire is originally from Texas. They talked for a bit, but it wasn’t until months later—right before the pandemic—when Claire texted Michael back that things truly began. When COVID hit, Claire went back to Texas to be with her family and Michael spent time with his in Wisconsin, but they kept their connection alive with weekly FaceTime happy hour dates until reuniting in Chicago that June and officially starting to date. Five years later, they’re excited to get married and celebrate with the people they love most.