Before we ever crossed paths, we lived in the same city, both calling San Francisco home without ever meeting. After years of living in the city, Fern moved north to Portland in 2016 to pursue his hair education and career. Meanwhile, Haley was living in Daly City, working in retail management and traveling often. Life had us in the same orbit, but it was not yet time.

That moment arrived in 2017. Haley was visiting Portland to celebrate her lifelong friend Jessa’s birthday. A crowded bar, a rainy night, and a quick pivot from the original celebration plans led the group to Sandy Hut, a Portland dive bar staple - if you know, you know. That same night, Fern had plans with a friend at another bar that fell through, and he also pivoted to Sandy Hut. The universe clearly had a sense of humor, or maybe everyone was just trying to stay out of the rain on a wet June night in Portland.

The moment Fern walked in, Haley did something she would later say was completely out of character for her, though friends may disagree. She grabbed his arm as he walked past and said, “Hey, I know you!” Though they had never met, Fern’s hair is obviously iconic, and Haley knew she had seen it, and him, around San Francisco. They spent the rest of the night together, talking, laughing, and completely forgetting the plans they had made. Fern never did meet up with his friend.

The next afternoon, they shared their first official date at Portland City Grill. As they got to know each other, they realized they had more in common than they expected, from overlapping friends to a shared love of The Office. After returning home to San Francisco, Haley flew back to see Fern in July, he visited her in August, and in September they officially started dating. In October of 2017, Haley moved to Portland, and soon after, Fern moved in with her. In their small studio apartment across from Peninsula Park in North Portland, they built their foundation, learning each other’s rhythms, growing together, and creating the kind of memories that slowly turned two lives into one shared story.

In 2020, they signed their first lease together on a cozy one bedroom apartment built in the early 1900s and tucked into Irvington. The memory making continued there, and the space became even more meaningful in January 2025 when Fern proposed, just the two of them, after an evening of dinner and drinks with friends. If you talked to Haley during this time, you knew she was very ready for that ring, so the fact that Fern was able to genuinely surprise her made the moment even more special.

And so, here we are today! After more than eight years together, we feel incredibly grateful to be stepping into the next chapter of our lives side by side. Thank you to everyone who has supported us, loved us, and cheered us on along the way. We cannot wait to celebrate with you all!