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Zach & Krista
"So did the two of you meet in college?” is a question we are quite frequently asked when meeting new people. Whether we are simply out and about with a new crowd or we are attending one of the various Wash U events to which we are invited to as active alumni, it is a logical question. But our story begins in a much more interesting and rather peculiar way.It is August 13, 2016 and Paul McCartney is set to give a performance at Busch Stadium on the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ historic show at Busch Stadium II in 1966. We are each to attend the concert with our families, and as serendipity has it we are seated in the same section in a crowd of over 40,000 people. As it turns out, we are seated just one seat apart, and after engaging in some initial pleasantries, we find out that we are both Wash U alumni. We exchange numbers and subsequently become friends over our common connection to our alma mater.
Fast forward a few months to December 22, 2016. After hanging out a few times both in group and one-on-one settings, we realize just how much we have in common and go on a real first date at Acero in the Maplewood area of STL. Obviously we hit it off and at some point during dinner Zach says to me “You always look so classy and beautiful at the same time, which is hard to find in a woman.” It sounds corny to say, but I knew right then that we were going to get married someday. Zach might have been a little slower to that race but hey, when you know you know!
The next several months are filled with fun, friends, and adventures getting to know each other. In the coming year we travel to Toronto, Playa del Carmen, Chicago, New York, Napa, and even Italy. Again, it is strange to think we coexisted on the same cozy campus for 3.5 years and never crossed paths, but this does bring up one of my favorite dialogues we shared over our first few months of dating:
It is early March 2017 and I am set to leave on a work trip to Germany the next day. We are eating at a casual restaurant close by and while we are waiting for our food, I catch Zach just kind of staring at me clearly pondering something. I tease “Can I help you?” to which he replies “Yeah, I swear I used to see someone around campus who looks just like you and I’m trying to figure out who that is.” When I think about it, I was dressed exactly to my college norm; hair down, no makeup, Wash U sweatshirt and jeans. I reply something like “Well… probably me?” We often reminisce about our college experience and wonder what would have been different if we had known each other back then, but good ol’ Sir Paul brought us together. Though if you ask Al Gietl, he will take all the credit for getting us together, as he was actually sitting between the two of us at Busch Stadium that night ;)
Throughout 2017 we share not only these fun travel experiences, but we continue to grow our connection to one another. As time goes on and we realize just how much we are the male/female versions of each other, it becomes apparent that we are truly soul mates. We continually finish each other’s sentences and we, without fail, always want the same thing on the menu when we go out to eat. In December 2017, we return to Acero to celebrate one year of love and life together.
In rolls 2018 and we decide to take the next step and combine our households. The possibilities seem endless and we have a lot of fun in the process. Throughout all the disorganization, continual projects, and house work, we create a home together and actually get along doing it! Though much to Zach’s dismay, many of his bright lime green possessions have to make their way to Salvation Army… The months go by quickly and during this time it is not only the two of us who grow together, but it is also our families. We are lucky to have two sets of great parents who, as it turns out, also get along as friends. In May 2018 the six of us jet set to Europe and embark on a Mediterranean cruise. As our younger selves, neither of us ever imagined we would be brave enough to be hostage on a cruise boat with our significant other and both sets of in-laws, nor did we think that we would be lucky enough to have a blast doing it! Our families really are becoming one.
Jump to fall 2018 and at this point we have had several conversations about taking the next step and getting engaged. Sometime in September, Zach sends me a text asking if we have any plans on Friday the 28th of that month because there is a Wash U business young alumni happy hour that, as he put it, “would be good to go to.” As I mentioned, we are very active as alumni serving on committees, attending events, etc. so these kinds of happy hours are a common occurrence. A few days before this happy hour, Zach continues to discuss plans around the happy hour evening and he just seems more excited than usual for typical networking and mediocre red wine. Friday afternoon finally comes around and as he is already on campus for work meetings, he suggests that I get an Uber and meet him at a building on the edge of campus so we can walk together to Holmes Lounge where the happy hour is being held. At this point I’m very suspicious and thinking “I went to school here for 5.5 years. I know where Holmes Lounge is so why is he being so strange?” Anyway, I acquiesce and meet him on the edge of campus. We walk up to Holmes Lounge and he says he wants to enter through the main entrance which is located in the main quad. At this point the jig is up and I know what is coming in that gorgeous spot on that perfect sunny, 78 degree day. Low and behold, Zach gets on one knee and asks me to marry him. Elated, of course I say yes!
Although the engagement becomes official on September 28, 2018, the funny part is that we actually booked our wedding venue in August 2018. With October weddings being so popular in St. Louis you have to be ahead of the game and well, I said we already knew we wanted to get married right? Life together has been nothing but sweet and we honestly can’t remember how we ever lived without each other. We are so looking forward to the rest of our lives side by side but first, we have to get hitched! We are so grateful to have so many wonderful friends and family that we would be honored to have witness our marriage and we are very much looking forward to celebrating with all of you on October 19, 2019!