OUR STORY

Hey there,

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re someone we love—and someone who’s about to witness a pretty big day in our lives. So we wanted to share a little story with you. Ours.

We met online—yep, welcome to modern love! One swipe, one message… and somehow, it just clicked. From the very first conversation, it felt like we’d known each other for ages. Everything flowed so naturally—laughs, stories, even the silences. Before we knew it, we were planning spontaneous weekend getaways just to make more memories (and, let’s be honest, test how well we handled airport chaos as a couple—spoiler: we nailed it).

Back then, life was already shifting. Selin was in the middle of a big career transition, and Vlada became this steady, calming presence. He showed up with quiet strength, kind encouragement, and a whole lot of listening. A few months in, Selin met Vlada’s family and started joining the celebrations—birthdays, holidays, Sunday dinners—just like that, she became part of the circle.

Then summer came, and Selin left for a two-month trip to Turkey. But the distance didn’t last long—Vlada hopped on a flight just a few weeks later. That trip was unforgettable. We road-tripped along the coast, tasted everything in sight, explored quiet islands, and got wonderfully lost in winding streets, laughing the whole way through.

And that’s when it happened—Vlada met Selin’s parents. Her dad mostly spoke Turkish (whether Vlada understood or not was... flexible), which led to some hilarious moments. But in between the tea, the stories, and the language gaps, something beautiful unfolded—two families, two cultures, finding a rhythm of their own.

Back in Chicago, we weren’t just settling into life—we were building one. One day, we stopped by an animal shelter “just to look” (famous last words), and Sunny found us. Our goofy little pup with two different-colored eyes and a personality way too big for her tiny body. She’s been our third musketeer ever since—our fluffy shadow, pup cup lover, and unofficial queen of kitchen dance parties.

Later, when Vlada went through a big career change, Selin was there—just like he had been for her. And somewhere along the way, everything began to sync. We found ourselves on the same schedule for the first time, with more time for late-night talks, long walks with Sunny, spontaneous dinners (and even more spontaneous dancing), and sci-fi movie nights where we pretend we fully understand the plot.

We’re endlessly grateful for the love and support of our families—they’ve been our biggest cheerleaders from day one. And now, we get to celebrate the next step in our story with you.

Our journey has been filled with laughter, growth, dog hair, and all kinds of love.
We can’t wait to write the next chapter.
And we’re so, so glad you’ll be there with us.

With love,
Selin & Vlada