Some have found love in a hopeless place. We Found love at northwestern...

Sam was a film student from Brooklyn, NY. Ellen studied English and hailed from Duluth, MN. For an entire school year, they traversed the campus of Northwestern University without knowing their future spouse was among their classmates.

One crisp fall night in the fall 2009, the eve of Homecoming, a mutual friend named Wendy introduced them after a chance run-in at the illustrious 1800 Club in Evanston, IL. RIP Hundo.

Ellen was mere weeks away from her 20th birthday. Sam asked her if the phone she was nervously fidgeting with had a number. Innocent (at the time), Ellen simply replied “yes.” Beat. Eventually realizing the implications of the question, she scrambled to offer up her phone number.

A college romance ensued, lasting from Ellen’s sophomore year and Sam’s junior year through graduation. Together they attended countless Alpha Chi Omega and Phi Gamma Delta functions. They took just one class together: “Writing the Video Essay.” After Sam graduated, they weathered a long-distance stint during Ellen’s senior year. They were reunited when Ellen moved to Brooklyn in 2012.

Over the next seven years, they explored New York City, sampling jobs and neighborhoods: Bushwick, Williamsburg, Sunset Park, Bed-Stuy, West Village, Midtown. Sam freelanced in the film industry—including being a drone pilot videographer—while Ellen worked office jobs in publishing and tech. They traveled to Brazil for the World Cup, to Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, to Sedona, AZ and Lyons, CO. Ellen became an avid backyard gardner and Sam took up a notorious workout trend.

Nine years after the first crisp night of their meeting, Sam found himself shivering in the cold of a rainy December evening in Ellen’s backyard garden. Knowing this was a special place for her, Sam had planned to decorate the yard and surprise her with a romantic, private proposal. After bringing out the first armful of decorations to the deck, he realized he’d locked himself out! Through the window, he could see the rest of the supplies—candles, champagne glasses, a tuxedo jacket, his cell phone.

For the next 90 minutes, he could only wait, ring in pocket, sheltered only by a sun umbrella and a Duluth trading company flannel shirt.

Ellen had her suspicions, and took an even longer time than usual to get home that evening, wanting to leave some extra time, just in case. Past 8pm, she walked into her kitchen, saw the supplies strewn across the room, and spotted a damp-looking Sam on the deck through the window.

She rushed to pull open the back door. “Am I early?”

“Not exactly,” Sam replied, spilling into the warmth of the kitchen. “I’ve never been more happy to see you!”

Half an hour later, after Sam had some time to properly set up, he led Ellen back onto the deck, surrounded by tea lights, rose petals, and candles. He got down on one knee and popped the question. She said yes before he could notice that the ring box was upside down.

We’re so excited that you’ll be there to witness the next chapter in our story, just ten years short of the night we first met.