We’ve always liked to say our relationship mirrors the red string theory—the idea that two people connected by an invisible thread are destined to find their way to each other. Looking back, it feels like that thread was always there, just waiting for the right time.

We met at the University of Illinois and were friends throughout college, often crossing paths but never quite at the same place in life. After graduating, we both ended up in Chicago, living just five minutes apart in Lakeview. Sarah was living with three of her girlfriends, and Eric was living with two of his college roommates. During Covid, when social plans mostly meant small apartment hangouts with friends, we started spending more time together. Whenever our friends got together, we’d always find ourselves naturally drawn to each other, always laughing and having the best time together. Over time, the friendship we’d always shared naturally turned into something more.

Living in Chicago together has been an important chapter in our story, where we have built our own life together that we absolutely love. We’ve also traveled to many places together, discovering new places and making memories along the way. San Diego holds a special place in our hearts—it’s where we first fell in love and where Eric proposed at Sunset Cliffs in December.

Through it all, we’ve been each other’s biggest supporters, celebrating successes, navigating challenges, and growing together every step of the way. Our families and close friends have been a huge part of this journey and we can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter surrounded by the people we love most.