Our Story
Overlooking the stunning cityscape of Broad Street in downtown Philadelphia, Matt was more focused on his new interest group co-director than the views from the Attico rooftop bar. Michaela, however, ever the lover of an enchanting vista, was taking it all in. It began with the Emergency Medicine interest group, but it quietly marked the start of a budding relationship, strictly as coworkers to start.
It wasn’t until some weeks later that Michaela finally took an interest in Matt, well, his hobbies at least. She discovered that he and his good friend John would be spending their summer break backpacking the Appalachian Trail in Maine. She would go on to ask her parents for permission to attend a six-day backcountry trip with two guys she barely knew. Luckily, they were Eagle Scouts and, a former alumnus of the group himself, Mike Farrell must’ve sensed something important about this trip.
Shortly thereafter, Michaela discovered Matt would be her ticket to many more adventures. Their mutual love of exploration and culinary curiosity would bring them to a host of new places: seafood along the Istrian peninsula, RVing across the Pacific Northwest, hiking rim-to-rim across the Grand Canyon, and eventually to the shrub-steppes of the Patagonian mountains.
She said yes. Then they ate freeze-dried Pad Thai.
This time, Matt asked Michaela’s parents for permission to take her on a lifelong adventure. Overlooking the Andes in southern Chile, Matt and Michaela got engaged and celebrated with an evening of freeze-dried Pad Thai chicken and backpacking snacks.
Together, they navigated not only the steep trails of the South American wilderness but also military service and the dreaded Couple’s Match, continuing their relationship firmly as coworkers in Worcester, Massachusetts. While Central Mass lacks true mountaintops, a non-negotiable for Michaela’s wedding, they are thrilled to gather in the foothills of the White Mountains, where they begin their next chapter surrounded by friends, family, and fall foliage.