Stephen and Rachel lived in the same apartment building, two doors down from each other. Rachel saw Stephen briefly in the hallway just after a fire alarm and asked how long ago he had moved in. He said "we" have lived here a few months. So Rachel assumed he meant "we" to include a partner, so the conversation ended there. A couple months later Rachel and Stephen were taking out the trash and started chatting by the dumpster. Yes, the dumpster! They continued the convo at the dog park and then had cider by the pool. Rachel came home the next day to a charming, typed note slipped under her door with Stephen's number... A year later they celebrated their anniversary where they met. A neighbor saw them kissing by the dumpster and thought it was strange ;)

Soon after Stephen and Rachel met, their adventures began. Rachel had been planning a trip to Biloxi, Mississippi to see where her deceased father had grown up. Stephen invited himself along for the journey and offered to drive. They experienced wildfires along the highway, an interesting biodome stay on the bayou, amazing farm to table food and getting the car stuck in a ditch. Then they traveled on to New Orleans for a quick stay. Little did they know this journey would be the first of many to come. Rachel took a new job opportunity working abroad for six months. She knew it was a risk leaving for that long after having just made an amazing connection with Stephen but knew if it was meant to be, it would be. Stephen and Rachel communicated daily and then planned a meeting over the holidays. Stephen flew to Europe and they met in France, rented a car and traveled through the French countryside. They loved the culture and friendliness of the locals. They ended their holiday journey by celebrating New Years Eve in Paris. Stephen and Rachel have seemed to spend more time apart in their early relationship than together but it worked for them. Their sense of adventure and love for travel has united them as a couple.

Rachel returned to the US but was kept on the road for work half of the year. Stephen and Rachel made their relationship official and moved in together. We kept exploring, from Austin TX to San Diego CA to Denver CO. We both really fell in love with the Rocky Mountains and the golden vibe of Colorado. Soon after, Stephen's mom became ill. Stephen devoted the next few months caring for her and being with family. Rachel spent time working and putting in long hours to open a new grocery store. Rachel was immersed in meeting Stephen's family over Thanksgiving and Stephen met Rachel's mom soon after. Their parents were able to meet each other over dinner. This holiday season Stephen got to decorate his first Christmas tree and Rachel got to light her first menorah. They lost Stephen's mom over the holiday season. This was devastating for them but through it all they knew they had each other.

Stephen and Rachel went away to the mountains of NC for a much needed (deserved) breath of fresh air. They stayed in a cozy airbnb cabin high up on the mountain in Bat Cave. They decided to go on a private local resident's hike per suggestion of their airbnb host. They took the dogs along and hiked to the pinnacle. They climbed up a boulder that overlooked Hickory Nut Gap, and then Stephen pulled flash cards out of his backpack. Like a silent movie, Stephen kept quiet and Rachel read the cards one by one as the wind almost blew them away. Then came the "WOULD YOU MARRY ME?' card and before Rachel could say yes the next card showed the faces of their pets and then another card asking if Rachel was disappointed Stephen wasn't proposing by the dumpster :) Stephen pulled out the beautiful gemstone ring that they designed together. Just after being newly engaged, Stephen and Rachel hiked Chimney Rock and met a couple there who told them their daughter just had a destination wedding in another country. Once they heard how beautiful and unique it was, how much money they saved, and how meaningful it was, they couldn't get the idea out of their heads...