Ariel and Ben first met in the winter of 2015 while both working at Macy’s. On one fateful day, Ben mustered up the courage to give Ariel his phone number and exclaimed in a truly original fashion, “I think you’re pretty cool, and we should hang out sometime.” They had their first date at Italia Pizzeria. The first few months of their relationship remained casual, with barbecues at Yellowhouse and attending shows together downtown. In the summer of 2016 at Summer Meltdown, Ben wanted to become what we millennials call “official.” Ariel moved in with him the following spring and became an official part of the Yellowhouse Family. Their relationship was filled with laughter, love, great friends, Harry Potter marathons, and many dinners consisting of take-out from Vic’s. In the Summer of 2019, they decided to take some time apart to grow as individuals. However, they remained good friends and continued to support each other. Of course, by the summer of 2022, they realized that they belonged with each other in the end. Fast forward to March of 2024, when the “yes” day happened. Ben and Ariel were enjoying a nice bird walk at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. In her usual fashion, Ariel had to stop every 5 minutes to birdwatch through her binoculars and record her findings on e-bird. Ben, in HIS usual fashion, had to keep reminding Ariel that they needed to get to the boardwalk before dark. Two hours later, after finally reaching the end of the boardwalk, Ben got down on one knee and proposed. She, of course, said yes. They are currently enjoying their life together with their fur babies.