We met in the late summer of 2015 in Madison, WI. Maren had recently graduated from UW and took a job at a small sustainability consulting firm in town, and Anna was beginning her senior year. We were introduced (in a move orchestrated by a couple of friends and frisbee teammates) at Old Sugar Distillery on Madison’s east side. Soon after, Anna asked Maren on a first date -sunset paddle boarding on Lake Wingra followed by dinner and drinks (aka beer and tater tots) on Monroe St.

We made things official in early November 2015. Bound to busy work and class schedules but craving some time outside, we pitched a tent on the patio of Anna’s college apartment (we were young!). That’s when Maren asked to make things official. We said “I love you” for the first time after a New Years Eve party at the now-closed gay club, Plan B (RIP). And celebrated our first Valentines skiing together, kicking off a long tradition!

We went on our first big trip together that following summer. Anna took a marketing internship at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and Maren came to visit. We spent the week backpacking, camping out of a friend's borrowed car, romping around glaciers, soaking in the northern lights, dancing in pubs and generally solidifying our joint love for the mountains.

For the next couple of years, we lived in nearby apartments on Madison's east side, growing into our entry-level jobs (Anna took a marketing role at a software company) while generally spending as much time outside and with friends and fam as possible. Maren joined her first Hrovat-Staedter family trip (to Red Rock Canyon, Zion and Bryce NP)! We also started our summer tradition of visiting Maren's family's cabin on Little Trout lake in Northern Minnesota.

We moved to Fort Collins, CO in late summer 2018. Maren started grad school (a sustainability-focused MBA at Colorado State) and dove into TA-ship and internship. Anna took on part-time jobs at REI and as a paraprofessional in local schools before landing a full-time role at a local marketing agency for Colorado tourism. It was a busy time! We balanced a lot of work and nestled into a new community while sharing a 500 square-foot apartment. Anna would often pack up the car and plan a day in the mountains to make sure Maren took a break from the stress of school.

COVID hit right after Maren finished her MBA. Luckily she landed a job, which asked her to move to Denver. So, we packed up and moved to the city, where we still are today! When the long-term reality of remote work set in, Anna returned remotely to her former company in Madison.

We adopted Birdie! She also loves to visit Madison, Little Trout Lake, and the mountains :)

On the heels of a work trip of Anna’s to Ireland, we took our first international trip together. We explored Ireland for a week on our own, then met up with friends in Glasgow for a bike packing tour of the Scottish Isles we’ll remember forever.

Anna proposed over breakfast while we were on a trip to Little Trout Lake. We were able to celebrate just the two of us before breaking the happy news to friends and family.

Over Thanksgiving while back in Madison, Maren proposed (with the sneaky help of Anna's family) on the shore of Lake Wingra. It was much colder than it had been when we met there for our first date 7 years earlier!