Our love story began in the midst of the pandemic, through a dating app called Hinge. It was June of 2020 when we matched and started talking. Mark, originally from California, had moved to Chicago to attend nurse anesthesia school and had lived there for several years. He had recently graduated and was working at a local hospital where he shared a place with his brother Walter in Oak Park. Shona, on the other hand, was from Ireland and had been living in Chicago for 7 years, working as a Sustainable Buildings Engineer and had recently moved to a loft in Bucktown.

Despite the uncertainty and isolation of the pandemic, we both were excited about the possibility of finding a meaningful connection. Our first date was at the Ina Mae Tavern in Wicker Park. While bonding over a few drinks, we discovered a mutual love for traveling, cycling, and some other nerdy stuff that we won’t get into here. Throwing caution to the wind, we decided to go on an adventure together to explore local breweries on bikes. It was clear that we had chemistry and a spark of something special. As we parted ways that evening, Shona rode away on her bicycle as a dazzling display of fireworks began to explode in the night sky.

Over the rest of the summer, we spent more time together, riding bikes, visiting nearby towns to pick up vintage mopeds, and discovering new places around the city despite lockdown restrictions. We spent lots of time at home, cooking, playing board games, and getting to know each other. By the end of the summer, we had officially become a couple.

As our relationship blossomed, we decided it was time to introduce each other to our respective families. The Hessler family welcomed Shona to their San Francisco home for her first Christmas away from Ireland. The following summer, we made the trip to Ireland to meet the O’Dea and Kiernan clans. Soon after that, we made the decision to move to California permanently, and begin a new chapter of our lives together. We knew that we had found something special and were excited about what the future held for us as a couple.

Once in California, we continued to explore our shared love for adventure and travel. We spent our time traveling to national parks, both in California and other states, and exploring different countries whenever we could to see family and friends. We loved the natural beauty of our new home state and appreciated the opportunity to explore it together.

Whether it is hiking through the redwoods in Yosemite National Park, exploring the desert landscape of Pinnacles National Park, or skiing in the winter wonderland of Lake Tahoe, we make the most of our time in California's diverse landscape. We love the feeling of being outdoors and experiencing new things, and we are always looking for new adventures to share together especially when we can pick up a National Park passport stamp along the way!

Mark and Shona had just finished a lovely dinner to celebrate Shona's new job. They decided to end the night by lighting a bonfire in their backyard to make s'mores for dessert. As they enjoyed the warmth of the fire, Mark got down on one knee, pulled out a ring, and asked, "Will you marry me?" Shona happily said YES, of course!

Even though Shona knew the proposal was coming, as they had enjoyed ring shopping together, the moment was still full of excitement and love. Their dog, Maisy, was also present and couldn't contain her joy, running around the backyard with the "zoomies" in celebration and furiously digging in the dirt.

It was a simple and heartfelt proposal that perfectly captured the essence of their relationship - loving, playful, and full of adventure. We are excited to start this new chapter of our lives together, and to continue exploring the world as a team. And we are excited to have you all to join us for the kick-off celebration!