Our story begins where algorithms and probability meet. Emily and Elan were both at their wits ends of dating apps – a world of endless swiping, tedious small talk, perplexing ghosting, and cringe-worthy pick-up lines. However, they both were willing to give it one more try before going into another cycle of delete, download, swipe, repeat. Elan was captivated by Emily's profile. She was a vegetarian, a former Peace Corps Volunteer, portrayed an active and adventurous lifestyle with images of her ice climbing, and possessed a smile and laugh that Elan felt he could almost hear through the phone. In turn, Emily liked Elan's arms… They both swiped, and believe it or not, it was a match! The next morning, Elan pondered what message to send and settled on perhaps the most unconventional of pick-up lines: “So, this might be the strangest opener ever, but wondering if you’ve heard of the Turing test?” Emily had…. after a quick Google search, and asked to learn more. Essentially, the test aims to determine if a robot can convincingly mimic human behavior, tricking people into believing it's human. The initial experiments involved humans rating both robots and humans based on their perceived humanness, with an award given to the person who was least often mistaken for a robot – essentially, the "humanist human" award. "So I guess this morning my thoughts when drafting my first message to you were along the lines of ‘What makes us human and what are dating apps really, but their own little Turing test?’” Emily was enchanted. How had she managed to swipe on the most handsome while simultaneously nerdy, and thought-provoking guy on JSwipe? They had to meet.

A couple of days later, nestled in a booth at Revolution Brewery in Logan Square, they drank, ate, talked, and flirted for well over 4 hours. Their connection proved more potent than any beer on tap. Cue Beyonce’s “Drunk in Love”. After a quick farewell kiss (that Emily swears she initiated), Emily called her mom to share the news of the amazing date. Simultaneously, Elan skipped up the ‘L’-stairs and texted his sisters that he thought he just met the woman he was going to marry. (See the proof in the "snapshots" tab.)

Less than three short months into their budding romance, Elan and Emily faced the ultimate game-changer: good ol’ COVID-19. As the world plunged into a "it's just a week-long" lockdown mode, Elan popped THE question: "Wanna quarantine with me?" Emily, packing what she believed would be a week’s worth of essentials, embarked on what would become the world's longest sleepover at Casa de Elan #loveIsland. What was supposed to be a fortnight to “squash the curve” stretched into a two-month-long escapade of discovering each other's quirks and habits. Before they knew it, those two months turned into a year and a year into nearly a half-decade. They navigated graduating from grad school, launching new careers, sharing family gatherings, and nearly clinching the title of beer-pong champs. They moved from Lakeview to Wicker Park and thrived during each other’s family trips, both domestic and international. Mini-golf, board games, and Mario Kart became their competitions of choice, and they emerged from each with smiles – even though Emily would hold any infrequent victory over Elan’s head indefinitely. They unleashed their dance moves at weddings, showcased vocal imperfections at concerts, and spent their time giggling together at comedy shows or through whispers in the corner of family gatherings. Somewhere between Emily’s incessant devouring of fantasy novels and Elan’s corny dad jokes, they decided that this whole 'temporary arrangement' had all the makings of a lasting engagement. So, in a plot twist that surprised no one, Elan and Emily were ready to level up from quarantine partners to life partners. If you can survive a global pandemic, mysterious lockdown durations, and still find joy in the little things (like beating your partner at mini-golf), you’re pretty much set for life.

Elan & Emily wanted their proposal to echo their unique bond – meaningful, mutual, and without the spotlight. Their brainstorming didn't involve traditional props and destination checklists. While they did go out and buy a ring together… what happened next, neither of them were quite ready for. Four months later, they found themselves in the heart of Lollapalooza – doing what they love – listening to live music and dancing. As the night drew to a close, Odesza took the stage. While listening to "Higher Ground," the atmosphere stirred up a cocktail of emotions. Elan, arms wrapped around her, told Emily why he loved her. He loved her smile and laugh, her excited dance every time she eats delicious food, how he knew he could say what he wants without judgment, and how he looked forward to nothing else but getting home from work to eat dinner, talk, watch TV, and read together. Emily spun around to face him, reciprocating with her own symphony of endearments. She adored his intellect, his zest for life, and his heart. She was in awe of the home they’d created together, a place where her eccentricities didn’t just fit in; they were celebrated. Then, amidst the euphoria and the rhythm, there was a pause – a heart-skipping beat. And in that silence, a shared, wide-eyed realization: "Did we just get engaged?" The universe conspired to answer with an emphatic yes, complete with fireworks and rain pouring down through the lights – no exaggeration! Weeks later, bursting with excitement to reveal their secret, they were finally able to get their families together over dinner to share the news – sealing the deal in a space filled with love, laughter, and probably a few "I told you so’s."

Emily and Elan can’t wait to share the love, celebrate with you, and continue writing their story for years to come!