When Zach first met Kristen, he knew it was love at first, but for Kristen, it was too but she just didn’t know it yet.

During the height of the pandemic and volunteering at the Noroton Heights Fire Department Annual Tree Sale, it was up to Zach and Kristen to provide the food for the members for dinner.

Zach was beyond excited to be alone in the car with Kristen, even if that ride was only for five minutes down the street. Saying that Kristen can be in charge of the radio.

One night, Kristen was coming home from the Noroton Heights Fire Department's monthly meeting when she realized she couldn’t get into her apartment. The reason being, is she forgot her keys on the kitchen counter of her apartment after she had taken her new puppy, Sullivan, out for a walk that afternoon. Freaking out, Kristen tried to call a locksmith just to get charged an absurd amount of money and still locked out.

Since Sully was still a young pup, Kristen felt guilty just leaving the apartment complex. Thanks to her kind neighbor at the time, she slept on her couch for the night.

In the middle of the night, a thought dawned on Kristen, firemen help people all the time when they’re locked out of places. At 6am the next morning, Zach received a desperate text from Kristen pleading for help.

Immediately Zach responded and was there in twenty minutes. After trying to unlock the door for an hour and a half, the two finally got into Kristen’s apartment.

Zach was so helpful making sure Sully was taken out to go to the bathroom and answered her phone when her mom called to assure her that Kristen and Sully were all safely reunited.

As a thank you, Kristen asked Zach out to dinner. After spending time together and talking non-stop for a month, the two realized they had a ton in common and really enjoyed each other’s company.

Once the two had been on a couple of dates, Zach finally asked Kristen to be his girlfriend after spending the night at a Yankee game.

The next day they attended the NHFD Annual Dinner and took their first official photo together.

Throughout the their two and a half years of together, Zach and Kristen created a number of memories. From moving in together, going on trips to Pennsylvania and the Jersey Shore, numerous concerts and everything in between, the two knew that they wanted to continue their adventures together for the rest of their lives.

On December 30, 2023 in the comforts of their home and in their pajamas, Zach proposed to Kristen. It was the easiest decision she had ever made.