We decided on forever

We are excited to celebrate with our family and friends for our wedding. Thank you very much!!! Please enjoy some details about our small adventures together so far as well as details about our big adventure kickoff. #SHESAIDIEZZI (She said Yes-z)

Craigslist. Haha. Just Kidding. But this is how Michael usually answers this question when someone asks how he met Rachel. But now the rest of the story. Rachel and Maura (Michael's older sister) used to work together in the Emergency Department at Holy Cross in Chicago. During the same timeframe Michael just landed his new position with Bosch in the area. Out of the blue during this time, Maura decided that Rachel should date her little brother and gave her his number. Rachel really enjoyed the compliment but ultimately decided to reach out to Michael and introduce him to Chicagoland instead. They met on friendly terms but immediately connected over their stories. From Michael’s worldly travels and affection with Pittsburgh to Rachel’s family dance sessions in the kitchen and affection for UNC basketball. Small, little adventures caught each other's eye. Well one drink in November 2015 turned into dinner a week later then Millennium Park iceskating with hot chocolate and a sweet kiss in front of the Macy's Christmas windows. Just a small beginning for their big adventure together.

Backstory 1: One thing Michael likes to do is pick flowers to give to Rachel wherever they go. On trips, walking to the metro, family events, really anywhere. A small but sweet gesture he's been giving since the beginning of their relationship. Rachel loves it and usually puts it in her hair or carries it around. Backstory 2: A few weeks before the trip, Michael snuck into Rachel's jewelry box (with permission) to set a family heirloom diamond to a ring he picked out. It was a diamond from her great grandfather that was very important to her. With her parents' blessing days before the trip, Michael had the engagement ring ready. The Good stuff: Michael and Rachel were on vacation in Japan and went hiking in Kamakura - about an hour outside of Tokyo. At the end of the hike they were sitting on a beach reflecting on the first few days of the trip. Rachel asked Michael what the favorite part of the trip has been so far. He responded, "picking you a flower that you will never forget." Frantically she replayed the day over in her head trying to remember this moment. Unbeknownst to Rachel, Michael had picked a camellia flower on the mountain while she wasn’t looking during the hike. He pulled it out of his pocket with the engagement ring pinned to the center of it. Michael explained to Rachel how important these adventures together were to him. Going abroad together, exploring new places, hiking hand-in-hand and picking flowers for her. Michael asked Rachel to continue their adventures being married to each other. She was so excited it left her speechless but obviously 彼女はそう言った (she said yes!) They spent the rest of the trip exploring Japan and Vietnam enjoying their engagement adventure.