Our Story

Our story began in 2024, on a quiet, tree-lined street, at the farthest north end of Rogers Park, just steps away from the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago. It was June 24, and summer had arrived in the Windy City. The maritime winds blowing over the Great Lakes gently shook the leaves as they caught the evening sunlight, and the city was calm as the sun bowed low for its final dance of the day.

Cyrus had just graduated from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and was frantically preparing to take the Illinois bar exam. Nathan was working away the days as an HR practitioner for a behavioral health provider and spent the evenings wandering around Rogers Park, staring into Lake Michigan’s blue waters, seeking the meaning of life, and trying to figure out if it would ever be found in the HR profession.

Cyrus had found himself staying at a short-term rental between leases. His host had trouble with the concept of privacy, and he spent most waking hours avoiding her watchful gaze. Fortunately the weather was beautiful and there are so many wonderful places in Rogers Park to sit and panic-study. Rather conveniently, this rental was just across the street from Nathan’s condo. In classic Rogers Park fashion, one day we started talking, and we never stopped.

Once we met, the chemistry was instant. We started spending all our evenings together, just talking and listening. Soon enough, Cyrus’s new apartment was ready and it was time for him to leave Rogers Park. However, that was not the end of our time together. Nathan got into the habit of taking the Red Line down to Lake View to see Cyrus most evenings.

The nights of laughter continued, and gradually we both knew that we couldn't get enough of each other. A few months later, a subletter appeared from nowhere offering to take over Cyrus’s lease, and we filled Nathan’s Prius with Cyrus’s many artworks, and headed back to Rogers Park to start our life together.

After a wonderful time living together, we were married on June 17, 2026 in Peoria, Illinois. Now, we invite you to join us to celebrate our union!