While writing this synopsis of their relationship, Zach and Stanlee have found out years later they were in the same place at the same time several times before they had met. They both studied at Indiana University and had classes in nearby buildings between 2017 and 2019, met people in each other’s friend groups between that time and also attended the same halloween party in 2017 as well as the same welcome week party in 2018. The biggest tell tale sign when they realized they were at the same events in college included a girl wearing an obnoxiously large duck costume and a video Zach had posted marveling at his party planning abilities with Stanlee front and center.

The two officially met in December of 2018 when Stanlee had just been elected as social chair for her sorority. The job was simple: plan the parties and have people show up. Well, the first party Stanlee hosted had a not so great turn out, and this was her first time meeting the Phi Psi social chair and she could not disappoint. So, she took it upon herself to make sure the social chair, Zach, had the best night. They talked and danced and when the moments slowed, Stanlee made Zach get her another drink so he wouldn’t notice the lack of people there.

After about a month, the two worked together planning events and eventually began talking about other things other than the parties they would host together. Zach offered to take Stanlee to dinner for her birthday which actually turned out to be lunch, and lunch turned out to be a drive through the chick-fil-a drive through. Later that night, Zach had Stanlee and her friends over to celebrate. Keep in mind, Zachs friends had very little ideas on who Stanlee and her friends were but reluctantly agreed because Zach was “into this girl.” The night was filled with mingling, laughing and enjoying everyone’s company. By the end of the night Stanlee, with all her confidence, looked at Zach and said “You like me.” It was not a question.

The two started dating shortly after and have been inseparable ever since. Zach graduated from IU in the midst of the 2020 pandemic, forcing the two to do long distance until Stanlee graduated college in December of 2021. Upon Stanlee’s graduation, she had moved in with Zach and his roommate (Jack) Bayer. The three of them lived together in Chicago with their close friends since college and the apartment they called home immediately became the hub for any sort of hang outs. Eventually, Bayer had moved out and Zach and Stanlee got another roommate who refused to pay rent or get a job. His name was Gus.

In the summer of 2023, Stanlee drove home from work on a Saturday evening, which seemed suspiciously quiet for a Saturday evening in Wrigleyville. She brushed it off, parked her car and went to dinner with Zach and his cousin and cousin’s wife. They talked and laughed and by the end of the dinner were ready to go out, BUT WAIT: STANLEE NEEDED TO CHANGE HER SHOES. The four of them walked back to Zach and Stanlee’s apartment where she became suspicious of the lack of light in the living room for their dog Gus, and then became even more suspicious by the odd lights coming from their front soop. Zach proposed on the front steps of their apartment that meant so much to them. Where they finally came together after a year and a half of long distance and where they truly grew into adulthood together. The evening continued with a surprise of their families waiting in the livingroom to congratulate the newly engaged couple, and then again in the courtyard out back their friends swarming and cheering for the two.