January 2020: Hinge, Hitchcock, and a Home Run in Wrigleyville Two Hinge profiles, a mutual loathing for TSA pat-downs, and boom! Messages pinged faster than popcorn kernels, film fandoms clashed (Kubrick vs. French New Wave, duh!), and Rachel's Kubrick-ian bathroom essay sealed the deal. A Lincoln Park date unfolded from pool cues to stolen glances, fueled by Rachel's laughter (a Chicago lullaby to Ryan's ears). Mitski on the drive home, an Arthur Fist meme (you know the one), and parked beneath Wrigley's lights, a kiss ignited brighter than the skyline, begging to happen before saying goodbye. Our second date? Put on hold by Rachel's globetrotting, of course. Ten European ski days apart only intensified things, daily texts like love letters on slopes of longing. Our triumphant reunion? Let's just say, sparks flew higher than a chalet fondue fountain. March 2020: Bubble Buddies (and Buckets of Popcorn) As the world paused and uncertainty pirouetted, we found solace in each other's orbit. Laughter ricocheted through Rachel's apartment as we binged movies, Ryan juggling virtual classrooms and Rachel navigating a grounded airline industry. Sharing popcorn and anxieties, our bond deepened in the COVID crucible, forged in resilience and understanding. We emerged stronger, united by 100+ logged films and countless shared dreams, ready to spread our post-lockdown wings. 2021: Adventures Beyond the Classroom (and Clouds) Ryan embraced lab coats for chalkboards, managing a thriving (if squeaky) mouse colony while gearing up for genetic counseling school. Rachel, seizing an exit package from United (and locking down three years of free flights!), soared with entrepreneurial spirit. Between career pivots, we carved out adventures, exploring Chicago's neglected gems and, with O'Hare a hop and skip away, hopscotching to Seattle, St. Augustine, Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels. 2022: "How Can You Afford All Those Flights?", Sponsored by United™ Fate: the standby list giveth, and it taketh away. With Rachel's "work from anywhere" Oracle gig and Ryan's surprisingly flexible lab schedule, O'Hare became our launchpad to the world. Munich, Rome, Azores, Paris – each stamp in our passport a shared memory, a whispered "remember when?" echoing in exotic locales. And then, amidst fondue fountains and Mozart's melodies in Salzburg, news arrived: Ryan's acceptance to the Medical College of Wisconsin! Milwaukee, here we come! July 2022: New Beginnings (and Departures) 6am, on a Tuesday. O'Hare INTL Airport, Terminal 1, Arrivals. After greeting Rachel with a hug upon her return from a visit home, Ryan knelt. Tears and "yeses" danced under the neon arrivals board, the promise of forever shimmering brighter than any departure gate. Two weeks later, we said goodbye to Chicago, our hearts full of Windy City memories and our eyes fixed on the shores of Lake Michigan's frosty twin. 2023: Engagement = Bucket List Blitz (with Bibs on Hold) Travel continued, fueled by Rachel's sales magic at Travel Bank and Ryan's breaks from grad school. Ireland, Weddings, Edinburgh Fringe – each adventure a dash across our pre-kid bucket list, a reminder of the carefree days before nap schedules and sippy cups. But amidst the champagne sunsets and adrenaline thrills, a yearning deepened: a longing for forever, for "I do" whispered under the glow of antique chandeliers. 2024: ♫Do you remember...the 21st Night of September♫ And here we are, on the brink of forever. September 21st, a date etched in laughter and fizz, marks the day we trade travel stamps for wedding vows. We stand before you, a testament to chance encounters, shared giggles, and unwavering support. Our story, though far from over, is already a tapestry woven with love, resilience, and a shared appreciation for a good Mitski meme and a well-placed Kubrick bathroom. So raise a glass, as we celebrate the next chapter, one that begins with a resounding "I do" and ends with…well, that's a story for another time.