In October, Lauren & Stuart’s story started out like many modern romances, through a dating app. Stuart was the first to message asking Lauren if she thought Hinge was right to suggest they would make a good match because he thought she was pretty cute. Lauren thought Stuart was quick witted & pretty cute too, so she accepted Stuart's offer to meet up for drinks. It was a cold snowy day in November, & in very Wisconsin style, they enjoyed cold beers at Good City brewery. Relieved they were not catfished, they hit it off quickly & learned they had a lot of shared histories. Beyond a number of friends & people in common, as well as similar upbringings in the North Shore, they both unfortunately shared the loss of a parent to cancer. Stuart’s father passed away in June of 2015 & Lauren's mom passed away in April of 1998. It is a connection that grounded them immediately, in addition to their shared values & passion for Wisconsin sports...

.... Within the first few months of dating, the COVID-19 pandemic started & quarantining together intensified their relationship for the better. Lauren & her cat Hans moved in with Stuart a year later in to his Murray Hill duplex &, taking after her mother, she began decorating. The decorating was cut short though when Lauren was recruited & joined Apple. There was never any hesitation from Stuart that they would move to California together & the process encouraged him to pivot from accounting and shift into the exciting world of sales. After cancelling their relocation once due to COVID, they set the January 2022 move. They cherished the last few months spending time with family & friends over the holidays & sold Stuart’s duplex. When it sold, Stuart said it was a great house, but Lauren made it a home. Before they could pack up & move across the country, unbeknownst to Lauren, Stuart had a big to do & arranged a sit down with Lauren's father Mike to ask for Lauren's hand in marriage. Mike gave Stuart his blessing & asked a single question of when this would all happen. Ever the accountant, Stuart committed to by the end of Q1...

... Returning from a boys trip to Columbia & with the end of Q1 quickly approaching, Stuart had some planning to do. He designed the ring & began planning the proposal incorporating his love of the outdoors envisioning a beautiful view. After a long hike to the top of Hawk Hill, Stuart got down on one knee & proposed to Lauren in the clouds overlooking their new city of San Francisco. Of course, Lauren emphatically said yes. They called their parents & family to share the exciting news & picked up Lauren's brother Brian in their rented Mustang convertible with the top down of course. Together, they all enjoyed an Irish coffee at The Buena Vista. To top that & to end the day, Stuart & Lauren enjoyed a romantic dinner at Harris' Restaurant just down the street from their apartment...

... Lauren & Stuart's journey has certainly been anything but boring. They are are beyond grateful to have met & look forward to their marriage. They set the date for New Year's Eve in honor of Lauren's mother’s birthday. They will wed at the oldest church in Milwaukee & Lauren's former parish of Old Saint Mary’s, which coincidentally Stuart’s office once overlooked. The reception to follow will be hosted at the Pfister Hotel, built in 1893, in the Imperial ballroom. Simply put, they cannot wait to be wed & are excited to celebrate with their family & friends, people they truly cherish…