The first time Mitch & Mel met was at one of Chicago's most iconic landmarks, Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs. A mutual friend had invited people to a rooftop, and the two of them met each other and a number of others who were to be their future Kellogg classmates. At this point M&M didn't realize what was to come...
M&M's first date was to The Peckish Pig, a gastropub in the Howard area of Chicago. Mitch was admittedly very nervous (either because he was finally taking Melanie out or because he didn't know if he'd find anything on the menu to eat that wasn't pork) and the moment they sat down he asked Mel for her life story. Nothing like starting off the night on a light note!
There's nothing a bottle of wine can't fix -- and by the end of the night the seeds were set for what was to come.
Over Spring Break of their first year at Kellogg, Mitch & Mel each took a class called "Global Initiatives in Management" or GIM during the winter quarter, which studied business in a specific part of the world. They then took a two-week trip to that region for in-person meetings and research. Mitch's trip took him to China & Hong Kong while Mel went to Vietnam & Myanmar.
As luck would have it, Melanie's trip decided to spend their last two days before classes in Hong Kong and M&M met up in Hong Kong for a special international date night! They went on a great hike outside the city and checked out an awesome rooftop bar. Hong Kong remains high on their list of favorite destinations!
For Mitch & Mel, you can't spell romantic without M-I-L-W-A-U-K-E-E. Over Memorial Day Weekend of their first year in business school they planned a last minute trip to the Cream City. As one does on any trip to Wisconsin, M&M had their fair share of beer and cheese, but also enjoyed the Milwaukee Art Museum, a beautiful ferry tour and a very interesting tour of the old Pabst Blue Ribbon plant. The city will always hold a special place in their heart as the first trip the two of them ever took together!
For the summer between their first and second years of business school, M&M each headed to different cities along the West Coast. Mel took a position on the Business Analytics team at Nike, while Mitch worked for an early-stage startup in San Francisco called Hustle.
M&M met up three different times that summer in both Portland & SF and have a number of fond memories, including: an accidental off-road adventure on Mount Hood in a Prius, a tour of Portland's Pearl District with Melanie's sister Carly, husband Mark and at-the-time 1-year-old Vianna, and a July 4th party at their friend's Zac and Chiara's house in Portola Valley.
In classic business school fashion, as second years Mitch & Mel each led 20 first-year students on separate orientation trips (called KWEST at Kellogg). Mitch and four friends led a group through Romania, while Melanie's contingent tackled Southern Spain. As if those trips weren't enough, they extended the fun with 70 of their friends by renting four yachts and sailing through the Mediterranean.
Not even an inner-tubing accident, which caused M&M to make an emergency trip to land and a few stitches for Mitch in a Greek hospital, could ruin the incredible memories they have from a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
To celebrate their first New Year's together, M&M went to Guatemala over winter break of their second year. The beautiful country proved to be a hidden gem, as they ate incredible food, went on some amazing hikes and even learned how to turn cacao into chocolate!
During Spring Break of their second-year M&M headed down south to explore beautiful Peru with some friends. The week was unforgettable, with a two-day trek to Macchu Picchu, a lot of pisco sours, and a meal at one of the top restaurants in the world. They would never forget though what occurred only a few hours after they landed.
After arriving in Lima on a red-eye, the group went on a walking tour of the Peruvian capital and afterwards sat down to a quick lunch at a famous hotel. Unbeknownst to the group, as they all studied a map to figure out the afternoon's plan a pickpocket came and grabbed Mel's purse. What ensued was a wild trip throughout the city, a police report filed relying on Mitch's very poor Spanish, a visit to the embassy for a new passport, and then ANOTHER visit to the embassy later in the trip so we could all return home. The group survived, and would still recommend Peru to anyone interested in visiting!
The weekend of June 22nd, 2018 was an exciting one for M&M. On Friday they received their MBA degrees along with their Kellogg classmates, and on Saturday their families finally met to celebrate both the graduation and Mel's nephew Oliver's 1st birthday! The weekend also marked the beginning of the next chapter of their lives as they prepared to move out to San Francisco.
After the Kellogg whirlwind finally came to a close, M&M moved out to San Francisco to start a life together in the City by the Bay. After a few weeks living in Marin with Barb & Scott, Mitch & Mel found a great apartment and 1809 California became their new home!
For months M&M were looking forward to a weekend back in Chicago, visiting business school friends and going to some of their favorite restaurants. What Melanie didn't realize was that Mitch had other intentions for the weekend. With the help of friends Ladini and Jenny, Mitch was secretly planning a surprise engagement.
That Friday afternoon, Mel visited her friend Jenny at her apartment. Jenny recommended a visit to the roof of her building, and as Mel walked in Mitch was there to surprise her!
After enjoying a bottle of champagne with friends, M&M walked to a nearby rooftop bar to grab a celebratory drink. The waitress walked them over and Mel was speechless as she saw all 4 parents sitting there!
For the final surprise, Mel's sisters Carly & Brette and Mitch's grandparents Norman & Sondra were waiting to celebrate with the newly engaged couple.
So began an epic engagement weekend in the city that brought M&M together!