A slow burn that will last a lifetime. Jan-Willem and Lauren went on a date in Chicago while Jan-Willem was on a solo trip from The Netherlands. Two people who were not naive enough to think a first date would lead anywhere other than a good conversation with someone a world apart. They met at Grapes and Grains, a piano bar in the West Loop. As Lauren approached, Jan-Willem was already waiting outside in the freezing cold (a gentleman). Lauren’s family had immigrated from The Netherlands 100 years ago, and she’d always been curious about her roots; Jan-Willem, living a province away from where her family originated, filled her in on the culture. But the conversation quickly moved past history. We bonded over sharing the exact same values, the same life goals, and the desire to find someone to experience them with. We laughed at the drunk people dancing and singing along with the pianist, and before long, we were right there with them, dancing the night away. The next morning, the whirlwind truly began. We met up to take a yoga class (Jan-Willem’s first one!), grabbed brunch, and saw a matinee of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child—basically the epitome of who we are as a couple. Over the next four days, a vacation turned into real life. We filled our time with cafes, candle making, long conversations, and walks around the city. By day three, Jan-Willem had basically moved into Lauren’s apartment, ending our nights building Lego sets. When it was finally time to face reality, fate (or divine intervention) stepped in: Jan-Willem’s flight back to Europe was cancelled, giving us one more unexpected day. We were just two magnets that couldn't get away from each other. A month later, Lauren was already on a flight to the Netherlands to meet Jan-Willem’s family and get a glimpse of where her future might be. Fast forward through 20 flights across the Atlantic Ocean, and Lauren is officially moving across the world to create our dream life together. Somewhere along the way, you have been a part of our one-in-a-million journey, and we are so excited to celebrate the next chapter with you! <3