Our story technically began at Dane and Carly’s Halloween party in October of 2019. We met, chatted, and promptly filed each other away as a “fun person we’ll probably never date,” mostly because Chris was living in California at the time and therefore very much not an option. Then 2020 happened. During the chaos of the pandemic, Chris moved back to Milwaukee in the fall, putting us back in the same city, but it still took a little time (and a little fate) for things to really click. That moment came during a friends’ trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama in the spring of 2021. One evening at sunset, while the rest of the group headed off to the beach volleyball courts, Michaela and Chris stayed behind sitting on a towel by the water. What was supposed to be a few minutes turned into over an hour of uninterrupted conversation. Somewhere between the waves and the sunset, Chris realized, “Oh… this might be my person.” After the trip, Michaela bravely took a leap of faith and asked Chris to be her plus one to a wedding that fall. That one invite turned into dates, dates turned into something real, and within three months we were officially a couple. Turns out Halloween parties, beach sunsets, and a little boldness can change everything. Once we officially started our journey, things moved quickly in true “why wait?” fashion. Within seven months of dating, Chris had essentially moved into Michaela’s one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment. At under 700 square feet, it was the ultimate compatibility test. After proving we could thrive in tight quarters, we upgraded our square footage and found a beautiful house just a mile away in the heart of Wauwatosa. Since then, life together has been full of adventures, love, and plenty of great food. We have traveled to new places, made countless memories, and continue exploring new restaurants around the Milwaukee area. At home, Michaela has loved cooking gourmet meals for us, often turning an ordinary night into something special. Whether we are planning our next trip, trying a new spot in MKE, or simply enjoying time together, we are building a life that feels both exciting and deeply comforting. The rest as they say, is history- and we can't wait to celebrate this next chapter with all of you!