We're getting married!

Soon after moving to the DC-Maryland-Virgina (DMV) region, Rachel was aimlessly swiping on the common dating apps. Mediocre first dates and a couple of second dates later, and she was back to swiping. Simultaneously, Nathan had been going on first and second dates in the DMV for a few years after college. When Rachel saw Nathan's profile, it was mostly the dog (RIP Lambeau) and UW-Madison that had her swiping right; the fact that he was cute was just a bonus. After a cheesy first message, literally and figuratively, and a few days of messaging, they met up just a few days later. It was kismet.

After about a year of living in Chicago through a pandemic, Nathan and Rachel began planning their first pandemic trip to Portland, OR. After meeting with a jeweler over the summer to begin the ring design process, Rachel was convinced that the proposal would come on this trip in the fall. A little over a week before the scheduled departure, Rachel was meant to be getting drinks with a friend who had just got back from Portland. She had no idea what was coming for the rest of the night. When she went to her friends place, under the guise of getting information about Portland wineries, Rachel was shocked to find her own dog, Macee, at her friends apartment, along with Nathan, sunflowers, and memories of the 4 previous years together. Nathan swept Rachel off to the balcony to pop the question, but that's not where the surprises ended! On the rooftop was a small group of friends to celebrate with champagne and charcuterie followed by a delicious sushi dinner!