Our story technically begins in the Summer of 2021 when we met at an annual get-together hosted by the Waters family, but things didn't get set in motion for a few more months.

Fast forward to Winter 2022, when best friends Joe and Gina Gruber separately invited us (Gina invited Meghan, and Joe Michael) to tag along with them on a trip to Disney World to celebrate their engagement. Disney World is known for being full of magic and wonder at every turn, but for us the turning point was when the group had a night out at Jellyrolls, the dueling piano bar at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort. Surrounded by sing-alongs, dancing, and laughter, something clicked.

Michael, living in Cincinnati, was suddenly finding all kinds of excuses to visit Joe who just happened to live near Meghan in Western Pennsylvania, but it wasn't until after another group adventure to New York City to visit our friend Katie that our connection became undeniable.

Before long, we officially started dating in the Spring of 2022—our first “real” date being a Pirates game (though Michael, ever the loyal Cleveland fan, was just putting on a good face for Meghan’s sake).

Despite living a few hours apart for the first year, we still managed to find opportunities to see each other and our friends, though after Meghan moved to Columbus in 2023, the logistics got a lot easier.

With a shared love of adventure, we filled our time together with trips, visits with mutual friends, and the joy of being with each other's families. Our bond is characterized by an eagerness for new experiences, a love of family, and a shared sense of humor that keeps us laughing at the most mundane things, but most of all our shared values and deep commitment to each other.

Our biggest adventure to date was in the Summer of 2024, when we traveled to Ireland. On the beautiful Aran Island of Inis Mor, near Dun Aonghasa (the very spot where Amy Adams gets engaged in one of Meghan’s favorite movies, Leap Year), Michael proposed and Meghan said "Yes"! It was an unforgettable moment, filled with love, excitement, and a bit of movie magic.

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