It was December 2020, and Nathan and Courtney were both doing their best to make the most of a COVID-era senior year at Northwestern. They were taking classes remotely from their college homes, living with their roommates (and future wedding party members), when they stumbled upon a very silly little quiz—a Marriage Pact survey. The Marriage Pact pairs you with your most compatible match on campus. The idea is that college is busy, but it’s also where you’re most likely to find a spouse—so this quiz makes finding your match simple. For more info, here is their website: https://marriagepact.com/ Now, most matches lead to nothing. But when you’re in the 99.94th percentile, the odds are very much in your favor. The funny thing is, Courtney already knew of Nathan—and she wasn’t a fan. She had never met him, but he ran in adjacent circles. He was the head of an organization famous for its cliquey-ness and unbridled enthusiasm. That was a red flag. (Courtney now recognizes Camp Kesem as a great organization that Nathan made more inclusive during his tenure.) And she also knew him as one of the first people on Northwestern’s campus to get COVID. Some mutual friends in their social bubbles were, uh, canoodling, so Courtney’s house of seven girls was nervous they were going to get sick—thanks to COVID boy, aka Nathan Schimpf. They didn’t get sick, and neither did Nathan’s canoodling friend. The other roommate wasn’t so lucky. But because of this, Courtney assumed Nathan was a science-denying jerk who didn’t care about public health. How did he even get COVID? How irresponsible. Nathan, of course, like any younger brother would, blames his older sister for the infamous infection. She insisted they go out on the town after he took his MCAT. She does not accept responsibility. So, Courtney was horrified when her one true match—her 99.94% compatibility match—was COVID boy. Nathan asked Courtney’s roommate, “Do you know Courtney Larson? She was my Marriage Pact match.” But he never followed up. It would have ended there if not for the meddling of Anatolia and Kira, two of Courtney’s roommates. During a drinking game, they insisted that Courtney message Nathan on Instagram. Courtney thought nothing would come of it—after all, he was COVID boy. But once they started talking, they hit it off. Their first date? A six-pack of IPAs and some good conversation. Nathan was soon invited to dinner with Courtney’s six roommates—where he charmed the room. Courtney went to Nathan’s birthday party, wisely hiding the handle of peanut butter whiskey. They fit well together and fell in love quickly. After graduation, they did a couple of months of long distance—Nathan in Thiensville with his parents, Courtney in North Carolina with her sister and brother-in-law. But the more she missed Nathan, the faster her hesitance about moving to Milwaukee faded. Once Nathan got into the Medical College of Wisconsin, they moved in together—and they knew it was forever. Their little family grew in the spring of 2023 when they adopted an angel named Bean. Later that year, they got engaged at Seven Bridges Park on November 11th at 11:11 AM. Now, they are thrilled to be married in their home city, surrounded by family and friends, on May 30th, 2026.