Our Story

We've had both a long-distance relationship and engagement, but there is certainly no shortage of adventure! Follow the arrows for a progression of our relationship.

Before we dated, our first outing together was at the Baltimore aquarium on July 14, 2018. This was Meredith's first picture of Hans.

We went on a variety of tours and trips together as interns, slowly getting to know each other. At the Smithsonian, we had a 'whale' of a time.

Meri knew he was a good one from the beginning, but when he opted to spend a free evening with her to watch her friend's dissertation defense, she got the feeling that he really liked her.

It only took us twelve days to decide to officially date, just in time for Hans to leave D.C. This is our first photo as a couple, taken the day before Hans left D.C. for Indiana to begin teaching.

When Meri's internship ended in October, she visited Hans in IN on her way to OR. In his words, "Any woman who makes homemade PopTarts is good enough for me." Guess it was good enough for her, too.

Less than a month into dating, we each met each other's parents...alone. This is the look people gave us when we told them our plans to spend the next series of holidays with each other's families.

Christmas 2018 was spent with Hans's family in IL. Less than six months into our dating relationship, and Meredith was already starting to look like a Noyes.

After Christmas, we caught up with Meredith's parents at the InterVarsity Urbana conference in St. Louis, spending the New Year there.

When the trip ended, we didn't want to leave each other, to the extent that Hans sent his suitcase with Meri on her plane. How does that happen? We're still not sure, either.

In February 2019, Hans visited Meri in Oregon, where we hiked and explored more of the West Coast. There certainly was no shortage of laughter!

Easter was happily spent in IL with the Noyes family.

Hans returned to Oregon in June after Meredith's defense, and we spent some time hiking the PNW and exploring Portland.

We also visited the second happiest place on earth (after Disney)...the Enchanted Kingdom, a children's storybook theme park in Oregon!

Meri moved back to D.C. to start a postdoc at the Smithsonian. She was now much closer to Hans (only a 10 hour drive). Here, we met halfway, in the middle of nowhere, Ohio.

Ohio was a place for grand adventures and new friends.

Christmas 2019 was with Meredith's family in NM, where this picture was taken. It begs the question...is she starting to look like a Noyes? Or is he starting to look like a Sharps?

On Leap Day 2020, Hans surprised Meri in D.C. to propose. A little known fact, however, is that this is not the first time "Hans" proposed.

A few days after dating, "Hansilicious" (Hans's D.C. housemates) proposed to "Mary Beth". Meri distinctly remembers saying no, but it must have been obvious to everyone else from the start.

The "second" time Hans proposed, he got it right. She distinctly remembers saying, "Of course!"

He even planned an incredible engagement shoot for us in front of the Smithsonian Castle, a beautiful reminder of how we first met.

Here are some of our favorite photos from that shoot!

We had plans in March 2020 to visit Bergen, Norway, but the coronavirus shut those plans down hard. Instead, we took a road trip to Bergen, NY (a close second), doing our best given life's lemons.

We also drove up to Niagara Falls when state parks were still open. We were the only two there (#socialdistanceforthewin), which was pretty incredible.

Whether the coronavirus causes our wedding plans to go up in flames or not, we're thankful for this journey, and we are glad you're here with us.