It’s hard to imagine meeting a stranger online could lead to the best thing that’s ever happened to you, but for Max & Renee it just worked. With no intentions of embarking into a life-long relationship they were naïve to what was about to occur. Max was new to Utah and was ready to get out and meet a new companion in this new chapter of his life. Renee, completely new to dating, was curious to see what it looked like. Within the first day of Renee’s friends, Colette & Ashley, making her Hinge profile, she found Max. Max responded to her match request, even though he was at work on the oil tanker for another 6 weeks. Admittedly, Renee wasn’t taking any of it too seriously at first, letting her friends Whit & Ryan get in on messing with Max over text. But everything Renee dished out; Max gave it right back. Intrigued, they continued to text only to find out they were the exact same person. Some may think that is a negative as the saying goes, ‘opposites attract’, but for them, being nearly identical is exactly what they didn’t know they needed. So similar on values, views, humor, and interests, it had them wondering if they somehow knew each other in a previous life, if that’s possible.

For 6 weeks this texting and calling continued before they were finally able to get together in person for their first date. It was a strange type of nervousness they felt, because on one hand they felt like they had known each other for years, but what if it didn’t click when they met? Well, obviously those nerves were irrational because you are reading this. When the date arrived, Max & Renee embraced in a big hug and all the nerves were gone. A trip to The Green Pig pub for karaoke night set the scene for their life-long romance. Something interesting about their first date is that it occurred during NBA All-star weekend. All of basketball’s biggest names were in town and staying at The Grand America Hotel. On the walk home from The Green Pig, they decided to go into the hotel and act cool as if they belonged there. An hour later, after gawking at the ornate beauty of the hotel, they decided to continue their journey home when all of the sudden Renee gets wide-eyed and tugs on Max and says, “Do you know who Charles Barkley is?”. To which Max replied “Of course”. Low and behold there Charles Barkley was 10 feet away from them. From this cool moment they got a great story to tell about their first date. From that moment on they were inseparable. From skiing & dancing, to making food and taking care of Chili (their husky), they were two peas in a pod. Now remember how neither of them wanted to get into a super serious commitment? Well, the saying ‘It happens when you least expect it’ has never been truer.

In 2 years, they have been through what seems like 10 years’ worth of life. Between 3 surgeries, 2 ski seasons, careers changes, supporting each other’s dreams, cross country road trips to Georgia, Maine and Ohio, a trip to Italy, moving into their first apartment together, and countless concerts, restaurants, wine tastings and cooking nights, the most important thing they say about their relationship is “we’re a team”. Those words are foundational to their relationship and how they approach each day together. Beginning this next chapter of their life came faster than they planned it, but little did they know, it was the perfect time. Thank you to all of the friends and family who have been there for them through all of lives’ special moments, to once again come together in celebration of Max & Renee.