The modern love story for two busy healthcare professionals, Doug and Steph met through the dating app "Hinge" in late 2018. They started messaging back and forth while Doug was out caroling on the streets of Concord, NH with Concord Chorale, and Steph was putting off studying for a pharmacology exam in her nurse practitioner program. They soon realized they should meet up. Steph arranged for a co-worker (Hi Tanya!) to come in early for her ICU shift so she could come up to Manchester, NH for their first date - a feat of which she constantly reminds Doug, thinking all the while "This better be worth it!" After a wonderful dinner at Birch on Elm, the rest was history. It is a miracle they ever connected on the app, Steph living in Massachusetts and working in Boston, and Doug living an hour away in Concord, New Hampshire. They think that during a trip into Boston, Doug must have popped onto Steph's radar, and thank God he did! They tried reaching out to the app to get their first words together, but unfortunately when both people delete the app, the data goes as well. I guess we'll just have to imagine what awkward first digital impressions got an ICU nurse to rearrange her schedule and travel 45 minutes for a chance at a forever love!

Steph, of course, had been asking whether something was going to be happening in late 2020. Both of us had moved in together into a wonderful house, our first home, and our minds were on the future. Being a knowingly rotten liar, Doug made a deal with Steph - grant him this one surprise, without asking for details, and he would make it a perfect day. To help hide the plans, Doug started scheduling "events" for every day in late October and November that Steph had off from work - socially distanced, of course. They included outdoor dinners, little weekend getaways, and - of course - the actual plan. Doug and Steph had been talking months before, when they moved in together, about sending out a shared Christmas card, so it was a natural thing to schedule in the Fall. Doug's friend (and former upstairs neighbor) Allie is a phenomenal photographer and artist, and so it also didn't stir any suspicion when they asked her to come photograph them and Chance (their dog) for the card. Some of Allie's photos are the ones you see on this homepage! Unfortunately, despite their well-intentioned attempts at illegal entry, dogs were not allowed at Odiorne State Park on the Seacoast, and so they were turned away at the entrance. But just a couple miles back, and just as beautiful, was the Urban Forestry Center. After Allie took some candid photos, and not being able to take the suspense anymore, Doug went to Allie's photography bag. He had two signs made for Chance that day, the first saying "Stephanie, Will You Marry Me?" Doug put the sign on Chance's neck, and spun him around. On seeing Chance wear the sign, Steph burst into joyful tears as Doug knelt, presented the ring, and asked for her hand in marriage and to share their lives together. She said yes! Shortly thereafter, he changed the sign out around Chance's neck to one that read "She Said Yes!" - thankfully matching the reply.