It all began in August 2022 on a flight from Philadelphia to Lisbon. In the International Terminal, Andrew first noticed Mel at the airport bar and assumed, based on her bright orange backpack and red Ferrari baseball cap, that she must be European — and probably didn’t speak English. (Because, really, what American wears a Ferrari cap?) Little did he know, not only was Mel fluent in English, but she also loved to chat. As fate would have it, she was seated right behind him in seat 26J, and with his help of placing her bags in the overhead the two ended up talking the entire flight. During their time in Portugal, they met up multiple times — and quickly realized this wasn’t just a vacation fling. Something felt different. A month later, they reunited in Brooklyn, New York, where Mel had a trip planned (naturally, for a techno show she couldn’t miss). What was meant to be a casual meetup turned into an entire weekend together — a very long, very memorable first date. From there, Andrew began visiting Mel regularly in Chicago. Weekend trips turned into two week stays and eventually (and after Andrew earning extreme American Airline status), they decided to take the next big step and move in together. In August 2024, Andrew proposed in the breathtaking setting of Lake Como, Italy. Since then, they’ve loved life as fiancés, building a home in Chicago filled with music, great food, long walks along the lakefront, and the joyful chaos of their dog, Messi. Whether they’re trying new restaurants, dancing to their favorite house and techno DJs, or planning their next getaway, they’ve created a life they truly love — and every flight they take together is a sweet reminder of the serendipity that brought them together. Now, as they get ready to start their next chapter, Andrew and Mel are so excited to celebrate with all of you in the city they call home. Thank you for being part of their story — they can’t wait to see you in August 2026!