***This photo was snapped that very first night!***

Chelsea and Zac were destined to meet. Growing up in neighboring rival communities in Southeastern Kansas they were ships in the night for years. As luck should have it they both landed in Kansas City and shared a mutual friend, Sammie, who was visiting from Texas.

It was April 9, 2015 (the couple still celebrates Nice to Meet you Day each year) and to maximize her time, Sammie double booked Chelsea and Zac and invited them to join her at The Green Lady Lounge - a classic KC Jazz Club. As Sammie excused herself for the ladies room, Zac slid down a chair and started to ask Chelsea where she was from. She hesitantly replied, "small town Kansas, surely you've never heard of it." Zac said, "try me!" and as she explained - like she does so many times - I am from Independence, Kansas NOT Independence, Missouri - he shouted, "I am from Coffeyville - Go 'Nado." Needless to say after Chelsea picked her jaw up off the floor she was very surprised they had so much more in common than she had anticipated.

The night unfolded into a bit of a Kansas City pub crawl as they jumped into Zac's 1991 wood paneled Jeep Grand Wagoneer and the group stopped at Jazz for oysters, then off to the West Bottoms to The Ship for more live music and wrapped the night in Westport at Harry's Bar and Tables for a night cap. Zac returned the girls to Chelsea's car, the night was chilly and they hurriedly left - no phone numbers were exchanged and Chelsea hoped Zac would find a way to connect with her. To her surprise and amusement, she woke up to a Facebook "Poke" sent from Zac at 2:58AM (which believe it or not is still a thing).

The rest, as they say, is History!

It was the coldest day of the year - negative 7 degrees on December 22, 2022. Chelsea loves the Holidays and takes great joy in the festive attire that comes along with the season. Truth be told, Chelsea and Zac TECHNICALLY met in December of 2013 at a Holiday Party Zac was hosting for the Kansas City Young Republicans at the Kansas City Club. Chelsea only recalls this interaction because she admired Zac's striking Vineyard Vines cordoroy slacks with alternating red and green legs. Timing is everything and with her starting the Campaign Trail and Zac in the midst of law school their visit was limited to a very brief dicsussion about their shared appreciation for festive fashion.

Fast forward to 2022 and a lovely evening ahead as they got ready for celebrating a dear friend's birthday at Saddle & Sirloin followed by a Friendsmas dinner hosted by their dear friends the Goodpennys. Chelsea took a vacation day and her Mom was in town all day to do some last minute holiday shopping together and they parted ways late that afternoon. Chelsea got home and started getting ready for the evening, she decided to wear this very loud and very bright Santa themed cowboy hat - complete with singing and lights. Zac looked horrfied, and politely recommended something more.... timeless. Chelsea again chooses another red cowboy hat and Zac very kindly suggested that hat looked a bit... "edgy" - Chelsea hautily replied she was feeling "very edgy tonight" and chose the red hat. Zac knew he had his work cut out for him.

Chelsea has never been ready early - not a day in her life - but of course there is a first time for everything and tonight was the night. She suggests going to the Club early for a drink and Zac says he is slammed with work and needs finish up some things. So, Chelsea calls her Mom to see how her drive home to Independence is going - she says she is in Iola, about half way home.

Zac is finally ready to leave and they hop into the car and head towards Saddle & Sirloin to celebrate their friend's birthday! During the car ride there, one of their favorite songs by Tyler Childers - All Your'n is playing in the background and it finally feels like they are on Christmas break. The couple is bundled, afterall it is NEGATIVE SEVEN DEGREES. Chelsea takes note of the surprising number of cars in the parking lot for the chilly weather but knows the birthday girl brings a crowd!

As they hurry inside, Chelsea tries to make a beeline straight to the bar but Zac convinces her to take off her coat and as he plucks the rabbit fur gloves off her hands he takes them into his and things start to get a little more serious. He gets down on one knee and asks her to spend forever together. Chelsea cries - because let's face it, she is a bit of a crier - and notices her best friend and future maid of honor is there recording the whole surprise! Chelsea and Zac make their way towards the bar for some celebratory champagne, but Chelsea can't shake the feeling that her big news is really overshadowing her friend's birthday party.... as they enter the room she starts to see familiar faces, faces that wouldn't be guests at any other party but theirs! So many amazing friends and family from all over who braved the frigid weather to celebrate with them - including Chelsea's Mom who had to think fast when she was quizzed earlier with how her drive home was going. This party was for them and Zac had planned it all just for her! They danced the night away to the live band, Phantoms of the Opry, enjoyed many libations and a delicious spread!

What a Surprise! Such a beautful beginning to a new chapter together!