Shannon & Zoe
Our Story
2015
~
It was the winter of 2015 and a little indie movie you've probably never heard of came out, called "Star Wars the Force Awakens". A thousand miles apart, Shannon and Zoe would see this movie and start passion projects inspired by a galaxy far far away. It would take another six months, but come July 2016, Zoe would stumble upon Shannon's Star Wars art and leave a comment that put everything in motion. Over the next two years, Shannon and Zoe sent postcards, had virtual movie nights, and fell asleep on the phone together.
2019
~
Finally, in 2018, Shannon made the leap and booked a plane ticket to visit Des Moines for Zoe's annual New Year's Eve Party. Shannon and Zoe rang in 2019 together for the first time. 2019 continued to be a year of firsts, Zoe made her first visit to Connecticut, and Shannon and Zoe attended their first Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, surrounded by many friends they had made together along the way. In no time at all, it was New Year's Eve again, and Shannon was in Des Moines for what had already become a well-loved tradition. They celebrated the New Year, 2020, unaware that this would be the last time they would see each other in person for over a year.
2020
~
The year of separation was hard, but it also put things in perspective. They knew they never wanted to be apart like this again. In a teary-eyed phone call on Christmas morning, Zoe told Shannon she wanted to be life-partners. Freshly vaccinated and ready to see Iowa in the summer (and not January), Shannon flew out in July 2021, ready to make up for lost time. It was a whirlwind vacation which culminated in a trip to Adventureland, where Shannon and Zoe finally kissed for the first time at the top of the Ferris wheel. Near exactly five years to the day they first met online.
2021
~
2021 was full of more trips to Connecticut and Iowa, culminating in New Year's Eve 2022. Unfortunately, it was celebrated from bed with Covid- but Shannon and Zoe were together again for New Years at last! It wasn't long after returning home from this trip, that Shannon made the choice to move to Des Moines for good. Zoe made one final trip to Connecticut that Spring, before Shannon booked her one-way ticket to Iowa for the final time. And the rest is history!