An unlikely love story of two very different souls, which has withstood the adversities of international boundaries, geographic separation, and an unexpected evacuation from a war zone. Although both Sean and Liz had spent significant time residing in San Diego, their paths never crossed until Sean was living in Chicago – very inconvenient – as Liz reminds him often. In late 2017, Liz had been enjoying the California lifestyle when a mutual friend saw a Veteran’s Day post from Sean and an idea was born. She invited Liz for lunch, and as they sat along the San Diego waterfront, she pitched the idea of “a great guy in Chicago” and the unlikeliest of dating stories took hold. After the initial introduction, Sean and Liz chatted on the phone for a couple of months, eventually meeting in person. Their first date was axe throwing (we’ll let you guess who planned that one) and as their relationship started to grow, over the next few years, they rotated visits between Illinois, California, and eventually Washington, DC. They couldn’t possibly have more unique and individualized personalities. Liz is full of grace, beauty, and quiet professionalism; while Sean is typically the loudest and less polished football type. However, they bonded through shared values of Family, Respect, Loyalty, and Communication. These concepts flourished over time as the two grew closer. True love is often about sacrifice and compromise – and in the summer of 2021, they made the decision that Liz would leave her thriving career in favor of joining Sean in Kyiv, Ukraine. This arrangement wasn’t without complications, as it sped up their plans for a traditional engagement and marriage, in the effort of securing diplomatic protection for Liz in Kyiv. On October 16, 2021, the two had an intimate wedding ceremony at city hall, including only their witnesses and a local officiant. Finally, after four years of long-distance, they would be living in the same place and really be able to start their life together. Sadly, two months later, due to the impending war, Liz was evacuated from the Ukraine and relocated to the east coast, while Sean remained in Kyiv and completed his tour. Yet again the pair was separated for nearly 18 months. The silver lining of the situation soon broke through, and they received their next assignment to Madrid, Spain. Finally, after years of endless separation, the two have found their footing in the center of Europe and couldn’t be happier enjoying the vibrance and culture of their new home. The best part of the story is the unyielding love and determination of two very different individuals finding each other through hardship and continuing to build on forever. There doesn’t seem a better time than now, to finally celebrate this union with friends, family and loved ones from around the world.