Our love story started with a Tinder match. After we had each moved to the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania, we both swiped right and exchanged a few introductory messages in December 2016. However, the conversation ended shortly thereafter, after Kristen panicked and ghosted Zach (oops!). It wasn't until March 2017 when mutual friends Ryan Fox and Dan Kain pushed us back together, and after a few more nudges from the universe, we had our first date on April 15, 2017. It didn't take long for us to know that what we had just simply worked. The next four and a half years brought us significant growth, both individually and as a couple. Zach took a 100-day road trip across the country, Kristen completed two Half Ironman triathlons, and we moved in together in a small apartment in Bethlehem, PA, before moving together to Boston, MA in Fall 2019. We grew in our love through camping trips, overly ambitious hikes, National Park explorations, and whiskey flights, and slowly but surely, we built an adventurous and beautiful life together.

Zach proposed on November 26, 2021. After asking both of Kristen's parents for their blessing in July 2021, he bought a ring for Kristen and immediately got to work planning a surprise. Zach was with Kristen's family at their house in Bethany Beach, DE, when he asked an unsuspecting Kristen if she wanted to go for a walk on the beach. Zach proposed on a windswept and empty beach, and we shared a special moment with just the two of us (plus a sneaky photographer) before walking back toward the house. When we got to the beach access point for the house, another surprise awaited Kristen. A blanket, two seats, champagne and a bundle of roses had been secretly placed on the sand, and after a sweet celebratory toast, Zach texted Kristen's family to come down and join us. The surprises continued for Kristen, as we were greeted by not just Kristen's parents and sisters, but Zach's entire family and Kristen's best friend, Sammy. We had a celebration on the beach as a new family before heading back to the beach house to keep the party going. If you hadn't already guessed, Kristen gave Zach a very emphatic "yes" to his proposal.