Markus and I met on January 29th, 2017 as the international Sales Academy IV associates arrived at the ever-regal Towne-Place Suites in Cary, North Carolina. 31 sales associates, an American and an Austrian - a recipe for romance? Neither of us thought so. Fast forward to a trip to Washington, D.C. where Markus and I got separated from the broader group and locked in a metro together for hours. That's when it hit me - this guy is interesting (and insanely directionally gifted), and I need to learn more. We started as friends, the kind that share everything and spend ridiculous amounts of time together. At some point we both realized there was a much deeper connection there and decided to give a relationship a go. By the time Sales Academy ended, we took a leap of faith to keep things going internationally. Months of video calls, voice messages, texts, emails, snapchats and Facebook messages later, and our connection was impenetrable. Meeting his wonderful family during a trip to Europe for Oktoberfest was the final touch. I knew that this was it. We’ve traveled all over together – Austria, Germany, England, Croatia, Barcelona, Boston, Miami to name a few destinations. All the days spent on uncomfortable, squished planes just to exist in the same vicinity for a short time were well worth it.

It was Markus’ final trip to the US of the year, and we’d planned a plethora of Christmas celebrations with friends and family to mark the festivities. Little did I know, there was one additional celebration to come. On the evening of December 24th, 2019, Markus and I decided to grab a holiday drink at The Umstead Hotel. The Umstead happens to be located on SAS campus, where our relationship all began. Unusual Markus behavior, he asked me to “hurry up” and finish my glass of wine (Grunervetliener – shout out to Austria for the best wine in the world) so we could go for a walk around the garden. When we hit the bridge, he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Without hesitation and with many, quickly accumulating tears, I said yes! Family and friends met us in the lobby for celebratory champagne after the proposal to help us mark the beginning of our lives together.

Markus and I knew we wanted to embark on this new phase of life - as husband and wife - as quickly as possible. More than anything, we wanted to be together, in one country, city and home. Keeping in line with the rest of our nontraditional relationship, Markus and I decided to get hitched in the presence of my best friend and family in the Wake County Courthouse on February 17th, 2020. Then finally, after 2.5 years of true long-distance, and with the help of friends, family, colleagues, US senators and God, Markus finally moved to the US. An ocean, 4,800 miles and a 6-hour time difference apart, we fought for each other against all odds. The last 1.5 years of marriage, with the backdrop of a global pandemic, have been truly remarkable. We've grown tremendously as a couple, buying our first home and celebrating many other firsts together. And while we'll never regret the decision to get married in a Courthouse, we are beyond excited to FINALLY celebrate our union with our international friends and family in June 2022! We cannot wait to celebrate with each and every one of you!