Our Story

How we met:

Brian & Kirsten originally met at the wedding of their mutual friend Alyssa. While Brian grew up on the same street as Alyssa in Franklin, Wisconsin, Kirsten and Alyssa became fast friends spending the summer at El Lago Del Bosque speaking Spanish in Minnesota's north woods. Knowing Kirsten wouldn't know anyone at her wedding, Alyssa asked Brian to look out for Kirsten. The night before the wedding Kirsten crashed the end of the rehearsal dinner and ended up having beers with Brian and and his brother, Brandon, late into the night. 

The interlude:

As it turns out at the time of Alyssa's wedding, Brian was living in the suburbs of Chicago and Kirsten in the city. A few months after the wedding while Brian was visited by his brother, the boys met Kirsten at an Arcade bar, but it would be years before they crossed paths again. 

How we reconnected:

In 2016, Brian switched companies and was now going to work in the Chicago Loop. He packed up his apartment and got a new place on Southport in Chicago's Lakeview Neighborhood. Just .7 miles from Kirsten's apartment he had visited the night of the arcade bar.

Come June 2019, Kirsten moves out of that apartment into a cute yellow house now just two blocks from Brian. 

In September 2019, Brandon, Sharon and Jeff (Brian's parents) came for Sam Adams Taco Fest on Southport Ave. After a few drinks, Brandon remembered that Kirsten existed, and lived somewhere nearby. Kirsten got a text saying come to stop by the party at Brian's and she was shocked to realize she and Brian now lived 2 blocks from each other! Brian's friends watched skeptically as Sharon & Jeff greeted Kirsten by name. Who was this woman that no one had heard of before? 

While Brandon was the one who texted Kirsten, he had consumed a few too many "greslritas" and found a comfy spot on the couch by himself. Brian and Kirsten were able to catch up. It turned out that there were many restaurants in the area that both of them wanted to try. They ran into each other outside of the grocery store two days later and plans were laid to grab dinner at nearby Peruvian Restaurant. 

A friendship or something more?

Brian and Kirsten had a blossoming friendship before the times of Corona. It didn't hurt that Brian lived between Kirsten's house and the train. So after a night out with friends and a train ride home, Brain would be available for a night cap or was willing to open his doors for a bathroom break before the extra 2 blocks home. He also assisted Kirsten when any large furniture needed to be moved around her apartment, which she always repaid in beer (Brian's love language). 

When Covid came around, Kirsten was at her parents in Shaker Heights, OH for 3 months. Brian would send updates on the state of the neighborhood and the amount of meat in his fridge. When Kirsten returned to Chicago, she and her roommates agreed that Brian (who lived alone with his two cats) was a safe addition to their home bubble.

As the two spent more and more time together, friends began to notice (and comment on) how well they got along.

How we fell in love...

Kirsten and Brian cooked meals together, went to breweries, and walked all over the city. He would meet her for a 6:30 am walk when she would attend a 7:30 work out in the park. 

Kirsten began spending as much time at Brian's apartment as her own. His cat, Gambit, began to realize he didn't have to fight his brother, Logan, for a lap to sit on, as Kirsten's was available for him! 

In September 2020, Kirsten learned to make homemade pretzels for the Octoberfest Party Brian would host. After everyone left on the night of that party, Brian confessed his love to Kirsten. While she knew she was falling in love with him too, she couldn't say so just yet. 

It is fairly well known that Kirsten attempted to maintain a cross-Atlantic relationship during the pandemic. While considerate, Kirsten realized that the perfect man for her was already standing by her side. Kirsten & Brian officially began dating in November 2020. 

As it goes with Chicago apartments, Brian invited Kirsten to move in with him when her lease ended in May 2021 and she accepted. Throughout the spring they reorganized his apartment so Kirsten could have a space of her own, and they conned siblings (Thanks, Brandon!) and friends into doing things like carrying a sectional across a major street and up and down a flight of stairs.

Once they were settled,  they took their first big trip together: a road trip from Chicago to NYC to Boston and back. You can read about that trip on Brian's Blog... whenever he gets that posted.

How he proposed:

After their June road trip, Brian & Kirsten began preparing for their next big adventure. Brian's company, Evolent Health, rewards its employees with a month long sabbatical after 5 years of work.

After much discussion and debate, Kirsten & Brian opted for a west coast adventure. They would fly to Seattle and travel all the way to San Diego, making many stops along the way. 

Brian nearly proposed the third day of the trip when Kirsten & Brian drove up to the top of Mt. Erie, a coastal mountain near the Northern Cascades. Brian and Kirsten discussed the beauty of the view in front of them. "I do have the ring," Brian said (or something along those lines). But they decided to wait, as they both were basically in PJs and the exhaustion from their hike the day before may have suppressed their excitement. 

When the *right* time came, Brian proposed. It was at Cline vineyard in Sonoma. Kirsten and Brian were both showered and well rested. Brian found the perfect sunny spot with flowers as tall as he was. He pulled Kirsten away from the picnic table where they were sharing a bottle of wine with Brian's cousin Mariah. We were thankful that Mariah was there to take photos of us after our private moment, thank you Mariah! 

How they will tie the knot:

Join Kirsten & Brian to celebrate their love in St. Paul, MN on November 12, 2022 for a ceremony & reception at Earl & Wilson Event Center.