Zach and Chris first met waaay back in 2013. Chris was dressed like a salmon volunteering with his College Ecology Club co-president Alyssa at the St. John’s River Festival, Zach was begrudgingly serving coffee and donuts with our pal Michelle at the same event.

While Chris was an extremely cute salmon, it took another few years until they’d both graduated from University of Portland and started their careers, for them to reconnect at the very end of 2015. After Zach got Chris caught up on every Star Wars movie that existed up to that point, and Chris convinced Zach to give back to their community more by volunteering with Pride NW, they realized they’d found something special.

Through those first few years, Zach took Chris to his first music festival, Chris took Zach along on an extended work trip to London, Prague, and Rome, and they realized that they were each others’ Lobsters and that their lives fit perfectly together.

Chris moved into Zach’s place in 2017, and both continued to be shocked at how easily they just worked together. Zach would cook (every meal), Chris would do the dishes. Chris would drive (everywhere), Zach would DJ and make sure they didn’t get lost #passengerprincess.

After getting through the first year of the pandemic (with the help of their roommates Kelsey and Rachel, and hours upon hours of Mario Kart), on January 25th, 2021, Zach proposed to Chris at the top of snowy Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree while on a trip to Palm Springs. Despite the snowy wind blasting his face, Chris said yes! After 5 years of dating, these two realized that while every relationship is work, they pushed each other to be better people and were in it for the long haul.

Shortly after, they welcomed their first [fur]baby, Keiko (@keikothecorgipoo on the gram). Their first, and maybe easiest, wedding related decision came in October 2021 when they asked Zach’s best friend (and immediate Chris supporter) Matt Smouse to officiate their wedding. They all celebrated at Chris’ favorite bar in Austin, Container Bar (#CBC).

Coming out of quarantine, they realized their priority was to make a home where they could have a yard for Keiko, a kitchen for Zach, and space for Chris to flex his HGTV skills. So they decided they’d have a longer engagement and bought a house in North Portland before diving into wedding planning.

Alongside all of this, they’ve traveled to 11 music festivals, 8 countries, and many prix fixe menus.

That brings us to today. Chris and Zach have known each other for 11 years, have been dating for 8, and have been engaged for 3. And, they sure are ready to tie the knot officially!