November 20, 2019 - The night before Thanksgiving, Rachael and Seth ran into each other at the hometown bar, JP Mulligans. Having not seen or spoken to each other since high school, it was simply a friendly encounter exchanging hellos and catching up on life. Rachael was living in New York City while Seth was in Madison, Wisconsin working on Kilter. In passing, Rachael mentioned her interest in making some extra money so naturally, Seth offered to interview Rachael for a part-time position to help out with Kilter. Yes, Seth made Rachael interview and thus started their working relationship.
March 15, 2020 - the world shuts down because of COVID. Rachael flies home to Manlius from New York City and Seth packs his car and drives back the 14 hours from Madison to Manlius.
April-May, 2020 - As it becomes clear this is more than a 2 week shutdown, Seth and Rachael work on Kilter together as colleagues, becoming closer as friends over these few months having regular work get-togethers, backyard meals from Stingers Pizza Pub, and yoga in the lawn (when Seth thought Rachael actually liked doing yoga...).
June 5, 2020 - Rachael's closest childhood friend, Rachael, invites Rachael, Seth, Jamie, Kenzie, and Ruby to her family's historical site of a home in Sterling, NY for a weekend getaway (the deed to the house is 1800). That evening, the girls encourage Rachael to sing for us while we played games. That's the first (and only) time Seth heard Rachael sign for a crowd. It was the only time he needed. Later, Rachael and Seth found themselves on the porch swing outside where they would have shared their first kiss, had it not been for multiple white claws sloshing around in Seth's stomach while on the porch swing.
August, 2020 - Seth and Rachael decide to sign a lease back in Madison, WI together. They will move in together in January, 2021. Before then, they want to do a trial run together without dating from their childhood homes.
October, 2020 - Trial run in Ogunquit, Maine. Rachael and Seth both grew up going to adjacent beaches in Wells, Maine every summer, so going back to live there together for a month was a perfect way to try out living together and escaping COVID isolation for a little while. Loving every minute of the experience, Maine is a place we'd look forward to returning together to. Our favorite experience was at the beginning of our month, crashing Paige and Kyle's honeymoon in Bar Harbor and seeing the sunrise at Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.
Madison, WI (January, 2021-February, 2023) - Rachael moves with Seth to Madison. Rachael quickly made close friends with Becca, Haley, Nat, and Kara who are all a close knit group whose significant others are Seth's friends too (John, Joe, Aaron, and Tristan). The group of five couples made our two years in Madison absolutely magical.
This chapter in our lives is truly a special one that we cannot condense elegantly, so here are a few defining moments of our lives while we lived in Madison together.
- Grew and sold Kilter to Blackbaud, Inc in August, 2022. Rachael and Seth continue to work with the product today for Blackbaud. Building this company together alongside colleagues Julian, Jerry, and Erica made our eventual success a possibility. Thank you to you all for your dedication, your hard work, and your friendship. A special thank you to Mark Bakken, Seth's first investor and someone who truly believed in us from Day 1. We are so thankful for you.
- A Kickball Team's multiple championship titles and near undefeated record in 3 seasons together.
- The Blue Jays competitive summer baseball team, and wrapping up 7 incredible seasons for Seth. Playing with Rich for many years was the best time of Seth's life. Thanks to Rachael for coming to every game on Sundays over the last two years. Go Jays!
- Dozens of golf outings with John, Aaron, and Joe
- Celebrating Tristan and Kara's engagement. We can't wait to celebrate you both two weeks after our day!
- Special visits from Rachael's parents, Seth's parents, and Seth's brother and sister-in-law to Madison
- Seth lost his grandmother, Mady, on New Years Day of 2021. We love you, Grandma.
- Our nephew Beckham is born on February 5, 2022. Can't wait to have you as our Ring Bear buddy!
- Seth got COVID in May, 2022 and screwed up Rachael's 29th birthday plans for free drinks all night at The Nitty Gritty.
- Seth lost his dog, Sammy, on June 13, 2022. When you love a dog, they will always be in your heart. See you on the rainbow bridge, Sammy.
- Rachael lost her grandfather, Tom, in November 2022. We love you, Granddad.
- Our first trip to Cancun, Mexico with Sarah and Tanner. Congratulations on your recent engagement and we can't wait to celebrate your day with you soon!
- Special trips together to Chicago for Rachael's 28th birthday, Austin (x2), Atlanta/Savannah/Hilton Head, Boston, Washington DC, Buffalo, Philadelphia and New York City (x2).
- A quiet 2BR apartment just a 10 minute walk from the capitol that we absolutely loved living in together for over 2 years.
- Hundreds of walks together to Tenney Park, James Madison Park and to our favorite coffee and brunch spots (Grace Coffee, Ancora, and Madison Sourdough)
- Rachael pulling the $250 pull tab at LJ's
- Not winning the $2B Power Ball lottery
Thank you to everyone and everywhere who made our time in Madison one we will cherish forever and cannot wait to return to every year.
2023 - The next chapter.
Rachael and Seth move back to upstate New York in February, 2023. We don't yet know what awaits us but we look forward to finding our dream home, getting a dog, traveling the world, having kids, and building a life filled with incredible memories together.
We're so excited to have you all together to celebrate our love on September 29, 2023 at our favorite place, The Brewster Inn.