Meeting: It all started in Washington, D.C., at the Victory Fund Gala thanks to a mutual friend and colleague, Richard. Chris and Josh were seated at the same table and spent the evening chatting between speeches and courses. Chris had brought a date, so everything stayed politely professional… but the universe clearly had other plans.

Sparks: Chris works closely with Richard, and together they run their firm’s LGBTQ+ employee resource group. When Richard had the idea to invite Josh to speak on a sports and business webinar, Josh happily agreed and Chris and Richard ended up moderating the event. Shortly after, Richard casually let it slip that Josh had a bit of a crush on Chris. Chris was pleasantly surprised. Texting soon followed, and the spark ignited.

Visit: After months of texting, Josh just happened to have a “work trip” to Chicago. Funny enough, those work obligations disappeared the moment he arrived. The weekend was filled with getting to know each other, exploring the city, and realizing that what started as a friendly connection felt a lot more like something special.

Dating: About a month and a half later, Josh visited Chicago again. This time the weekend included soccer games, an arcade date, darts, and lounging by the lake. By the end of the weekend, it was official: they were dating.

Boyfriends: Then came Hawaii. Josh invited Chris to join him on a trip to the Big Island, and Chris didn’t hesitate. Somewhere between sunsets, fancy meals, and an unforgettable hike, Chris asked the question that mattered: “So… should we call each other boyfriends?” Josh said yes of course.

Moving: After two years of long distance between Orange County and Chicago, Josh made the biggest leap yet. He moved to Chicago and into a three-bedroom condo for them to share. (Talk about commitment!)

Engaged: One year into living together, Chris and Josh traveled to Telluride, Colorado. Hidden among the luggage were two rings tucked deep into Chris’s suitcase. When the moment felt right, Chris led Josh to a breathtaking mountain top, gave a little speech, and popped the question. Josh said yes and the rest is history.

And now, here we are and we're so excited to celebrate the next chapter with all of you.