A Canadian and American walk into a bar... In New York City, on a cold January night for a work event. The bar is nestled in the cozy basement of a restaurant on Wall Street. The American, Devon, made a commitment to herself that she was there for business networking only. The Canadian, Jeff, didn't come in with any such strict rules. Jeff approaches Devon and her colleagues at a candlelit table in the heart of the room, making continuous efforts to engage her in conversation. He even offers to buy her a drink. It's an open bar.

They both left New York City a day later without exchanging contact information (Devon stood her ground). After landing in Chicago, Devon opened her phone and was greeted with a friend request on Instagram, Facebook... and LinkedIn.

They spent the next year as long distance friends, which eventually turned into a long distance relationship 18 months after they first met, with Jeff finally asking Devon to be his girlfriend, by proposing with a RingPop, as per Devon’s request.

They did two years of long distance until Devon moved to Toronto in February 2020, only a few weeks before the Covid lockdowns began. Within 30 days their relationship went from long distance to a 500 sq. ft. quarantine ... a true test for the relationship. But this close space only strengthened their relationship (thank God) and gave them time to coconspire to quit their jobs and take a mini retirement together.

They spent 5 months away seeing Hawaii, Bali, Bangkok, Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, and Italy. Toward the end of their trip, one wine-drunk afternoon under the Tuscan sun, they committed to bringing their moms back one day.

On February 16 2023, Jeff proposed to Devon drinking Joe's Coffee in Central Park at 8:00 AM (clearly morning people). They celebrated that night with dinner and champagne in a basement bar on Wall Street. A familiar setting, at a candlelit table in the heart of the room.