Once upon a time in a ratty old house in South Oakland, Isabel and Michael met for the first time thanks to mutual friends and “O Week” at the University of Pittsburgh. As the year progressed Michael, a junior at the time, and Isabel, a sophomore, soon started seeing more of each other at parties, football games, and events around campus. While they started out as friends, they soon became much more. They went on their first date in January 2017, though the location remains a point of contention. Michael claims their first date was to the “Mr. Pitt Business School” pageant while Isabel prefers to say their first date was dinner at Fuel & Fuddle. Regardless, the two became inseparable and eventually began officially dating when Michael asked Isabel to be his girlfriend on Mt. Washington on February 14, 2017 (cliche, we know).

They spent the following months the way all young couples do — meeting each other’s families, exploring hometowns, learning each other’s quirks, binge watching Game of Thrones and How I Met Your Mother, etc… The months passed and eventually the school year ended and Isabel and Michael spent their first summer together living in Oakland and taking the first of many trips to one of their favorite places — Bethany Beach.

The following year passed much the same. Michael graduated from Pitt in April 2018, and soon after, the pair set off on a European adventure! They explored Paris and visited Michael’s grandmother’s hometown of Charleville, ate their way through Rome, Venice, and Florence, and ended their journey white-water rafting through the mountains of Interlakken, Switzerland.

That fall, Michael began his career in government contracts back in Washington, DC, as Isabel’s senior year was in full swing. After a year of long-distance dating, Isabel graduated in April 2019 and moved to DC to attend George Washington University where she worked to earn her Master’s in Elementary Education.

Aside from a brief hiatus due to covid, they’ve enjoyed exploring DC and calling Arlington, Virginia home ever since! They moved in to their first apartment together in 2021 and soon after welcomed their pride and joy, a chihuahua, chow-chow mix named Este, into their lives. Michael worked a few more years as a contracts manager before deciding to pursue a law degree, first at Catholic University and then George Washington University. Isabel began her teaching career shortly after graduating from GW in 2020 and has been teaching 5th grade ever since.

Finally, after 8 years together, Michael popped the question on May 18, 2024. Isabel believed that she and Michael were attending an after-hours event at the Andy Warhol museum before meeting up with her family for a welcome home party for her sister, Ava, who had just returned home from studying abroad in Florence. Instead, Michael got down on one knee in the spot that one of their favorite pictures of Pittsburgh, which Michael gave to Isabel one of their first Christmases together, was taken. Isabel said “YES” of course and they celebrated with their families on Mt. Washington.

Now, Isabel and Michael get to celebrate their love with their favorite people in a few short months!

To be continued…