How it all began
In 2002, Spencer and Chelsea met at Emerson Middle School when they were just 11 years old. They quickly became close friends, spending most of their time together at the Park Ridge Community Center. One memorable moment was when Chelsea orchestrated Spencer’s first kiss with another girl in the tennis racket room. Although she didn't admit it at the time, Chelsea had a crush on Spencer, making that kiss bittersweet.
A year later, Spencer's family moved to Arlington Heights which meant he had to switch schools. Despite the distance, the two kept in touch through AIM (AOL Instant Messenger…spennerchillin82 and kelso1325) and spent countless hours on their family landlines. AIM was soon replaced by cell phones, and their friendship continued through middle and high school.
In 2009, Chelsea moved out of state for college, and over time, they began to drift apart, only checking in occasionally. Fast forward to 2021, when Chelsea was scrolling through the Hinge dating app and spotted a familiar face. She quickly reached out to her long-lost friend and asked him out. Spencer initially thought it was just a casual catch-up, but Chelsea had other plans.
That night, she revealed a piece of paper she'd kept for 18 years—an invitation to Spencer’s middle school going-away party. It was her way of showing that she had never stopped thinking about him. Despite having lost touch for over a decade, she had always wondered where he was and if their paths would cross again. Since Spencer wasn’t on social media, they hadn't seen or spoken to each other for about 11 years.
And the rest is history.
After reconnecting, their relationship blossomed as if no time had passed. Within a year, they were living together in Lakeview, Chicago, their lives now fully intertwined. Spencer became a proud cat dad (to 4 cats!), while Chelsea became an auntie to Tadhg. They grew close to each other’s favorite people, sharing adventures with friends and family in India, Seattle, Denver, Michigan, Door County, and more.
One of their favorite date nights is taking private dance lessons. On May 16th, 2024, with a little help from their amazing instructor, Spencer flawlessly performed their three-minute Bachata routine, ending it with the best move of all—getting down on one knee.
In August 2024, Spencer and Chelsea bought their first home in Forest Park, Illinois. After they closed on the house, they jumped on a plane to Italy to celebrate their engagement. Since moving in, they’re enjoying getting settled in the new neighborhood and working on home projects. Their cats (and plants) are thriving in the burbs—and so are they.
