Russ and Thana met in the City of Brotherly Love in late Summer 2016. Russ is a huge fan of music and checking out local concerts. He invited Thana to see Angel Olsen, a female indie singer/songwriter, who had a show at a popular local venue, Union Transfer. It was a picture-perfect Philly night and they had a blast at the concert together. The rest is history!

Russ and Thana took a trip to Ireland for Thana's birthday in November 2018. Russ had planned an incredible itinerary that started in Dublin. Over the course of the week, Russ and Thana drove to the West Coast of Ireland and spent a couple days in the town of Galway, passed through the Burren and Cliffs of Moher, then drove down to the Southwest Peninsula, capping off their trip in Dingle - a small port town known for it's rugged scenery, trails, and also happens to be Ireland's "Foodie Town" (home to a couple Michelin Star Restaurants!). Russ popped the question halfway through the trip at The Burren - a region of County Clare in the southwest of Ireland, consisting of glacial-era limestone, cliffs, caves, fossils and rock-formations. Thana - in total awe and shock - of course said "YES!".

Thana was born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She attended New York University for an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience. She got her MD at Jefferson Medical College and is now a sixth year Neurosurgery Chief Resident at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Russ was born in Memphis, TN and shortly thereafter moved to Greenville, South Carolina where he was raised and his parents still reside. He attended Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia where he majored in Mathematics. Since graduating from college, Russ has worked as a Futures Trader at Susquehanna International Group.