The short story: We met at Ashley's nephews 6th birthday party. Chris was visiting from Tampa, FL...and I showed up in an inflatable dinosaur costume! Some background: Ashley grew up in Dallas, TX, right next door to Chris' Aunt Gail, Uncle Harold II, and cousins, Lauren and Harold. Ashley and her sister were very close friends with Chris' cousins. Time went on and eventually, Ashley's sister, Heather, married Chris' cousin, Harold III. Ashley got to meet Chris' parents and sister at Heather and Harold's wedding in 2008, but Chris did not attend due to a prior engagement. So, fast-forward to 2021, Heather and Harold have a birthday party for their 6 year old son, Harry, Ashley's nephew. Chris will tell you Ashley talked his ear off, but the two connected over their shared love for ice hockey and their careers in medicine. After the birthday party, Chris returned to Tampa, FL where he was living at the time, and Ashley remained in Dallas. The two kept in touch and for their first official date, Ashley flew to Tampa and the two went to a Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup playoff game. The rest is history! Our first year was long distance, then we spent some time in Dallas, before starting a 3 year stay in New York City. Fun side note: Chris' Aunt Gail is a photographer, who photographed Ashley, her sister Heather, and Chris' cousin Lauren, frequently when they were little. There is a photograph of Ashley and Lauren doing each other's make up around age 3-4, that has been hanging in Chris' house his whole life...little did he know he'd be marrying the little blonde girl in that picture some day!