After attempts by family to introduce us to one another had failed, God intervened with divine timing of course. Esther was dog-sitting for two English cream retrievers, Rufus and Maisy, who are owned by Noah's close friends (close enough friends that they will be family by the time this wedding is occurring). Upon the family's return home to their dogs, Noah and Esther met!

Near the end of a lovely monthiversary picnic in the Morton Arboretum, Noah brought Esther a rather large celebratory gift from the car, smuggling the ring behind it. Along with the gift was a written note with instructions for a scavenger hunt intended to end with the discovery of an "extra gift." Thoroughly distracted by the gift and the hunt before her, Esther was shocked to find it end with Noah on one knee!