We're getting married!

It all started at the Hotel Imperial in Vienna, Austria. The year was 2017. Rachel and Drew were both there on a work trip; albeit, separately -- but little did they know, that trip was going to alter the course of their lives forever. Their love of travel had brought them together halfway around the world but as they say; sometimes love is found in the most unlikely of places. From the outside looking in, it may have appeared to be a short-lived fling. A farewell kiss at the Frankfurt airport, a second date in Austin, and another meetup in Chicago for New Year’s Eve – their meeting could not have come at a better time in both of their lives. They both knew it, and decided to follow their hearts and see where it would take them. Their unwavering attraction to one another initially posed a problem: Rachel was in Seattle, and Drew lived in Ohio, but they were determined to make it work. Long distance, time zone differences, and various trips to each other’s respective cities could not keep them apart. Ultimately, though, if their relationship was going to flourish, they needed to be together and live in the same city. Rachel had no interest in moving to Columbus, OH at the time, so Drew quit his job, packed his truck, and they headed west together on an unforgettable cross-country road trip!

Fast forward *four years later*: Drew knew that he wanted to propose to Rachel, but couldn’t quite figure out how. Fortunately, the one thing he did know is that he wanted to make sure they were around the people they loved when he does it to share their special moment and excitement. Coming into the summer of 2021, it had been about a year and a half since Rachel was last in Chicago to see her sisters and family. Drew knew how much Rachel was looking forward to their trip back east, and suddenly it dawned on him how he could make it an extra special trip – and one that they’d never forget! On the afternoon of June 12th, Drew steered Rachel into a nice summer stroll down Chicago’s Riverwalk under the guise that they were meeting his parents for dinner since they came in from Cleveland for the weekend. They walked across the Michigan Avenue Bridge overlooking the city where the river connects to the lake, and that’s when Drew told Rachel how much he loved her and that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. He then got down on one knee and proposed. Rachel was, to say the least, both surprised and elated. Then it really hit her when she looked up and saw Drew’s best friend, Alex, among the crowd of pedestrians, filming her reaction to the proposal. Al’s wife, Dominique, was there in tow taking pictures, crying, and sporting some champagne for the newly engaged couple. However, the celebrations were not over yet, Drew had one last thing planned for their special day. Drew then led Rachel down to a local beer & cider garden on the river where both of their families were waiting to celebrate with them.