In the summer of 2023, Rachel, along with her two dogs, cat, and houseplants, packed up her Subaru in Charlottesville, Virginia and drove across the country to start a new chapter in Portland, Oregon. Alex was already living in Portland, and not long after Rachel settled in, the two met on the dating app, Hinge. There was an immediate spark, easy conversation, and a lot of laughter. It didn’t take long for both of them to know they had found something special.

Soon they took getaways to Seattle, Whidbey Island, Maui, Ireland, and New York. Together, they experienced new Pacific Northwest hobbies such as bouldering, skiing, and camping. They grew closer together and eventually, Rachel and her crew of pets moved in with Alex, and their lives began to truly intertwine.

In Spring of 2025, while hiking through the breathtaking Wicklow Mountains just outside Dublin, Ireland, Alex got down on one knee and proposed to Rachel, and she said yes!"

Rachel and Alex are so excited for this next part of their story to begin in Oahu surrounded by family and friends!