Sarah Spence and Charlie first met in January 2021 at Bar Siena, in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago, IL. The pair was immediately entranced in conversation, and as time flew by, neither person wanted the night to end. Charlie, always proud of his Windy City upbringing, wanted to introduce Sarah Spence, a Chattanooga native, to a Chicago staple - Malort, so before the end of the date, they shared a celebratory shot together. It was definitely something you only try once. The next day, and in the midst of a pandemic, they were in for a surprise when Charlie texted Sarah Spence that he didn’t feel well and was getting a Covid test. Sure enough, Charlie unknowingly had Covid on their first date, and passed it along to the unsuspecting Sarah Spence. She forgave him for it, eventually, but still felt that a little teasing was in order.

Fast forward a month and the two took their first big trip together, traveling to Chattanooga, TN for Sarah Spence’s grandmother’s 90th birthday party. Nana’s first question to Sarah Spence upon meeting the tall, handsome man she had brought with her was, “When is the wedding?” Thankfully, Charlie was not scared away, and later asked Sarah Spence to be his girlfriend. They laugh about the irony of it now.

During the Chattanooga trip, the couple realized that they make a pretty decent travel team, and so began their passion for exploring some of the beautiful places our world has to offer: rainforests in Puerto Rico, volcanoes in Guatemala, Lake Mills in Wisconsin, the Great Smoky Mountains, old forts in South Georgia, beaches in North Carolina, and 10 national parks to name a few.

After a few more trips to Chattanooga, it did not take long for Charlie to become enthralled with Sarah Spence’s hometown, in all its natural beauty. As their apartment lease in Chicago drew to a close, Sarah Spence and Charlie began to think seriously about moving there. Then, in August of 2022, their dream became a reality when the couple packed up and moved to the Scenic City. They are thoroughly enjoying all that Chattanooga has to offer and recently purchased a home there.

In addition to globetrotting, Sarah Spence and Charlie enjoy spending time at home together with their two cats, Moody and Jojo. They also love to eat at their favorite restaurants in town, spend a lot of time outdoors on breathtaking hikes, and snuggle up for the occasional movie and a fire.