Rachele and Chad first met at Chad's cousin's 21st birthday party (thanks, D). After too many years of friendship, Chad finally asked Rachele on a first date to view a Van Gogh art exhibit in Birmingham, AL on January 1st 2022. Nicholas Sparks couldn't have written a more romantic novel as less than two weeks later, Chad asked Rachele if she would join him on an endeavor to travel across the country as contract healthcare workers. Despite years of knowing each other, countless laughs, and enough conversations to fill a library, neither had even met the other's parents yet. Awkward introductions turned into family relations, hesitant questions evolved into tentative blessings, and through charisma and proof of rationality, Rachele & Chad earned the trust of their families to take this leap of faith together. As a fitting foreshadowing of the couple's future, whilst on their first vacation together in sunny San Diego, CA, Rachele & Chad were both offered their first travel contract in Seattle, WA on the same day. The couple hadn't even lived together yet as they helped each other pack up their respective lives (including their individual cats) into Rachele's Toyota Rav4 to start their 2700 mile journey away from all things familiar. The further the two drove away from home, the closer they grew together. Their journey west itself was filled with moments the two will cherish for a lifetime: from singing Christmas music while it was snowing in the middle of March, to unknowingly stopping at drug-front gas stations in St. Louis, to freely driving over 100mph in the wide, empty roads of the Dakotas, to almost dying from ambitious Elk in picturesque Montana, and to finally arriving at their rental home in Seattle at 2 in the morning to only be locked out until the next day. Though only living in Seattle for 6 months, the couple fell in love with the PNW. The culture, warm embraces from locals, and countless outdoor excursions made Seattle a place that they would never forget. Even with some less than lucky incidents (chads car being stolen with Rachele almost in it, shoes being stolen, and a homeless man attempting to punch Chad for no apparent reason) the couple knew that this place and time together was special and these moments only brought the two closer together. The pair had plans to continue their travel adventures with new contracts in San Diego, however, life called the couple back home to care for the people that really mattered, family. This time back in Alabama was the most challenging time in this couple's lives as Rachele's father, Andy, was placed on hospice care and time was limited. Chad supported Rachele through countless tearful nights and helped her navigate the unimaginable reality of losing a parent at too young of an age. Chad and Rachele's father's relationship was special and something that Rachele knows her father held close to his heart. The two would share long conversations about their perspectives on life, their passions, and— most importantly— their love for Rachele. From these talks, Andy graciously gave Chad his blessing to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage. Though Andy was not able to be there physically for the inevitable proposal in Colorado, his presence was truly felt. The stars aligned with the weather and the crowd on that fateful day, and the couple couldn't help but feel that it was due to divine intervention from their departed father. Needless to say, the moment was perfect and Rachele said yes!