We often joke that at some point we'll need to send our story to the dating app we met through as a success that almost didn't happen. We both moved to Seattle in 2019 - Emily finally setting out from California for the PNW after falling in love with it years earlier and Mike making the long drive from Ohio to start his medicine residency. They matched a few months later and Mike struck up the courage to ask Emily out to a local restaurant for a Sunday afternoon happy hour. With his luck, that Sunday was her birthday, and rather than meet for the first time on such a big day they agreed on the day after. And then, busy with work, they didn't hear from each other for a week. A whole week. An eternity in dating app years.

As the time approached, Emily was in need of some down time after a fun birthday weekend and a long day of work, and she nearly talked herself out of going on the date. After all, neither of them said anything leading up to it and online dates have a way of just disappearing. Best not to get their hopes up even if they were both really excited to meet in person. Just as she made up her mind to go home after work if he didn't reach out - Mike texted and they headed for the restaurant. Mike got there early (ahem - on time) only to find the restaurant open but completely empty. Definitely a solid pick. Even though it was a highly recommended, trendy spot, apparently most of Capitol Hill was also too tired to go out on a weeknight. He sat waiting for Emily hoping she would show up. Fortunately she did, and they sat down to a long, easy conversation getting to know each other. There was chemistry from the start - the waiter had to come by several times to take our order ("oops - didn't even look at the menu yet, sorry!") and they eventually got some drinks and food (who makes ketchup with rhubarb?? Mike didn't realize he'd have to bring up his weird food allergy on a first date). They talked for hours until the restaurant closed, each hoping for a second date that ultimately arrived weeks later (another online dating eternity and another story). And that restaurant? Sadly they closed their doors for good soon after, perhaps not too surprising given the lack of crowds, but Mike and Emily still joke that they should be careful staying too late at any restaurant in case they were the bad luck that tipped the scales.

There comes a point in every relationship where you know where things are heading. Mike and Emily knew early that this was something special, and after giving their relationship time to grow, and a lot of introspection, it was time to pop the question. But unlike so many other questions, how you ask this one can be so important. Do you go the straightforward and simple route, or grandiose with big gestures? Mike ultimately decided that personal touches that highlighted their time together in Seattle was the way to go. Asking at the top of one of their favorite hikes seemed perfect, and after a lot of trail research (not too hard, not too flat, something with a view?) and finding the best day in the 10 day forecast, he picked a hike and made a restaurant reservation to celebrate after. But nature had a different plan, and Seattle had a record heat wave that brought avalanche warnings to most hikes in the region; the original hike he had picked was completely impassable. On top of that, rain popped up in the forecast (so weird - it never rains in Seattle) and Mike had to scramble to find a new hike and hope he could reschedule everything else for a nicer day later in the week.

Despite the hurdles, everything started to fall into place and the big day arrived. Mike couldn't sleep the night before and woke up early to pick up Emily for the hike. Ultimately picking a beautiful hike they'd been on months prior, along with the supposed avalanche warnings (it was true!!) made Emily a bit skeptical and she wondered why he'd want to revisit a hike they'd just been on. Her radar was up but she mistook Mike's mental exhaustion for being cool, calm, and collected, and figured it was just another hike. Her suspicions didn't stop there though - Mike had only brought a single croissant to split with their morning coffee prior to the hike, and later when asked about snacks, Mike said he didn't bring any since it was such a "short" hike (four hours!). Yet somehow he brought a backpack so overstuffed that he couldn't even fit his jacket in it when he took it off. When they finally got to the top, they were both pretty hungry after skipping breakfast but Mike suggested they sit and rest for a few minutes. By this point, Emily was baffled (he ALWAYS brings food) and hungry, but also happy to take in the sights before heading back down. They set up a hammock with a view overlooking Mt Rainier and sat for a bit before Mike suddenly "realized" he had some almonds in his bag. He took the opportunity to find the ring and ask the question that had been on his mind ever since he woke up. Emily said yes, and to her relief, Mike had actually brought a full picnic including champagne for a toast. He then stole her away for the rest of the day to celebrate together and enjoy their bubble of bliss. They made their way home to get changed and headed to Sedro Woolley to walk through rows and rows of colorful tulips in bloom at the tulip festival, then they made their way back to the Pike Place Market for a celebration dinner at the Pink Door.

Free of avalanches, it was the perfect day to celebrate the next chapter of our lives together, and we hope you will be able to enjoy what we love most of the Pacific Northwest when we celebrate our wedding together in April, 2022!