Welcome to our Love Story

Maggie had finally walked in her first PRIDE parade in Columbus and decided to go out to a table top gaming PRIDE event that evening. She and Chanse ended up playing Cards Against Humanity and Maggie won every single one of Chanse's cards. Chanse was appalled and accused Maggie of CHEATING! We still aren't sure how one would even cheat at Cards Against Humanity but Chanse was adamant that the bright pink loud Italian was not to be trusted.

Over the next few years Chanse and Maggie became friends through mutual acquaintances and became part of a large extended group of friends that kept them in near constant contact. Chanse however, forgot how to human whenever Maggie was around and would either ignore her, or launch an inquisition into some small detail such as her preferred Supreme Court justice. For her part, Maggie was confused and unsure of the stoic photographer and techie who always seemed to have an issue with her.

One night it all came to a head. Maggie was struggling with her path and was having a rough night but was out at The Shrunken Head attempting to rally. Chanse decided after years of friendship and some hardcore crushing he needed to do something or move on. He found Maggie tucked in the back corner of the front room huddled behind their friend Lana and he asked Maggie to go outside and talk with him. Maggie initially declined because she was not having a good night. Chanse asked again if she would please step outside with him for a moment despite Lana staring daggers directly through his soul for daring to not to take "no" for an answer. Maggie agreed and once outside Chanse opened up about how he had felt about her for years and why he was insecure about asking her out. He confessed the parts of her that intimidated him and that he had been afraid to get to know her better. He asked her to join him in a few days for drinks to "get to know" each other since they had always been in group settings, and he asked her to share one moment of true vulnerability with him a week so that they could finally get to know each other truly.

Though it may have taken Maggie and Chanse SEVERAL years to get past the friends stage, they fell in love rather quickly and have never looked back. Through pandemics, job changes, moves, sickness, loss of fundamental rights and state wide ballot campaigns they have been side by side through everything life has had to offer.

Chanse and Maggie were visiting the Dattan's in Anchorage, Alaska. Chanse colluded with Maggie's dear friend Valorraine to scout a beautiful location. The day before Chanse took Maggie up to Alyeska Ski Resort and Nordic Spa for a day of pampering. The next morning they met Valorraine and Carol (Bonus Mom!) for breakfast and a post-breakfast walk. A leisurely walk through the park led to a beautiful spot featuring the Turnagain Arm Inlet in the background. Chanse had arranged for a photographer to capture the moment when he asked Maggie to be his wife.

You probably heard Chanse and Maggie gush about their plans to run away to Italy, that is still happening! Chanse and Maggie will be having a private elopement in Italy in Summer of 2025. They decided to exchange their vows privately in a Villa in Italy and then have a separate ceremony and celebration afterwards with their family, friends, and loved ones. We are so excited to share our love story and our celebration with the people we love and who have supported us throughout our lives.