The Love Story
It all began in August 2022 when we matched on Hinge. Michael was visiting California for the first time on a work/holiday trip, and Allison was spending time in Tahoe. Despite the distance, Allison drove back to San Francisco to meet Michael for a picnic at Alta Plaza Park. Sharing a bottle of wine as the sun set, we bonded over our shared love of travel—and Michael’s bold pick-up line: “Want to work remote from somewhere nice together?” Allison’s reply? “We should probably meet first.”
By the end of that first date, it was clear something special had sparked. We met again the next day, with Allison cooking all day to impress Michael. Just five days later, we decided to make good on that pick-up line and booked a trip to Hawaii together. That week was pure magic: cliff diving, wandering volcanic fields, stargazing at the Milky Way, swimming with manta rays and under waterfalls—and falling in love.
When we returned, we didn’t want to say goodbye. Michael canceled the rest of his travel plans to stay in San Francisco a little longer, and we spent a weekend in Tahoe with Allison’s friends before he had to return to Munich. Just a few weeks later, Allison flew to Germany to visit Michael during Oktoberfest. He greeted her at the airport with flowers and whisked her off to buy a dirndl. Together, we spent days dancing, singing, and toasting steins of beer (Allison’s ability to drink four steins after a redeye impressed Michael!).
Afterward, we took Michael’s parents’ campervan on a road trip through Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and Italy. From exploring picturesque towns to hiking through breathtaking landscapes, we made unforgettable memories and fell even more in love.
We're so excited to celebrate this journey of love and adventure with all of you very soon!
From the unforgettable moments we've already shared to all of the new memories yet to come, we can't wait to have everyone we love together to celebrate this next chapter of our story.
Though we had to part ways, we knew we didn’t want to let distance keep us apart. Over the next year, we made long-distance work with regular trips: Allison’s NYC marathon, the holidays, Michael’s 30th birthday in South Africa, Berlin, California, Paris, and Amsterdam. Every trip brought us closer, and in September 2023, Michael moved to California to be with Allison.
Then, in May 2024, Michael planned a proposal at Baker Beach. Hoping for a perfect golden hour, he instead got a chilly, foggy San Francisco day—true to the city’s character. Allison, dressed in sweatpants and wool socks, was less than excited to leave the warmth of home. Michael decided to embrace the moment's authenticity, knowing that no matter what, the day would be special.
At the beach, Michael’s friend Immi and Allison's mom Kelly were in on the plan. Allison was cold and not in a great mood, but Michael knew burrata, red wine, and cuddles would lift her spirits. Once she was warmed up and enjoying the picnic, Immi pretended to take casual photos of the two of us to give Michael a reason to have him and Allison run down the beach toward Golden Gate Bridge. Michael got down on one knee and asked Allison to marry him (and Immi almost missed the shot).
A marriage across borders and cultures takes a little more consideration. That's why we officially tied the knot on June 21, 2024, in Michael's hometown Apfeldorf ("Apple-village"). The mayor of Apfeldorf officiated the ceremony, and Michael's friends and family went above and beyond to make the day so beautiful and memorable. We knew we wanted to throw a big wedding party with friends and families from both continents the year after. Ideally, it should be in a neutral place that our friends and family would love traveling to. The idea of a destination wedding in Italy was born and agreed upon in less than five minutes.
