Kate moved to Boston for college in 2005 and encountered tEp, an MIT fraternity that housed all the most creative weirdos. There she became part of a vibrant community of makers and dreamers. After she graduated, she played the villain in tEp's annual comic rock opera for prospective members, which included Clark. When he first laid eyes on Kate, she was dressed as a Hogwarts professor singing “I Cursed a Girl” to the tune of Katy Perry’s iconic queer anthem. It might not have been love, but it was definitely something at first sight. The following year, Clark and Kate officially met at tEp’s annual 4th of July party, and that Halloween, they both went to a party hosted by a fellow tEp alum. Kate spent the whole night flirting with Clark’s date, and they ended up dating her concurrently in 2012. In 2013 Kate moved to San Francisco. Clark stayed in Boston earning his Master's Degree, and moved to the Bay Area two years later. They ran into each other at a tEp alum's party in Oakland before Burning Man 2015, and Kate set her sights on a festival fling with the newly "glown up" Clark. Kate tried to get Clark's attention for days in the desert to no avail, but finally succeeded in wooing him. Once he figured it out, he was head-over-kettle. They spent a magical week together that sent sparks through their hearts, and when they returned to San Francisco they started dating. At first they tried to keep it casual, but their feelings for each other were undeniable. After a year of dancing and hiking and partying and traveling, they moved in together in 2016. The next four years at the House of Elrond brought their community together in eccentric and inspiring ways, and they built the foundations of a beautiful life. In 2020 they moved to the mountains in unprecedented circumstances, but made a new home and a new life in the Sierra Nevada where they are delighted to host their loved ones to celebrate their wedding.

Once upon another New Years Eve, Clark pulled a ring off his own finger and slid it onto Kate's in the heat of the moment, professed his undying love, and asked to spend the rest of their lives together. She wept several variations of “duh” before realizing she literally felt feverish. After Kate recovered from laryngitis, they determined they wanted to be life partners but had other short-term priorities, and Clark wanted time to design and commission the perfect ring. They made a Pinterest board of stones and settings and went about their lives under the assumption of forever. Then a whole lot of life happened. Then a pandemic happened. Then a move happened. Then a whole lot of new life happened. Eventually Kate realized they were coming up on 2022, and 22 is the number of cosmic significance in the tEp-iverse through which they met. Kate thought it would be pretty cute if 2022 were to play some significant role in their timeline… Prior ring discussions included thoughts of casual bands for festivals and other travel, and so in order not to step on Clark’s fancy ring design ambitions, Kate commissioned a set of simple birthstone bands to propose with. The plan was to flip the script on him and slide a ring onto his finger when the clock struck 12, just as he had. Coincidentally, Clark pulled Kate into a fancy jewelry store in early December and asked her opinion on a ring that looked like it belonged on their Pinterest board, then asked the jeweler questions about customization and turnaround time. It would be a race to the finish line! On New Years Eve, Kate set up a sparkling hearth scene for the midnight moment and had a poetic speech prepared, but completely lost it when Clark came into the room. She started crying. He started crying. She blubbered about love and life and their incredible journey, pulled the ring from its box, and slid it onto his finger. He said yes.