Our Story
It all started in Ukraine — thanks to a dare. In 2019, while teaching in Spain, Meghan traveled to Ukraine over Christmas to visit a friend. One night, they were playing “dare or drink” when they spotted a group of backpackers speaking English. At the same time, Maksym was living in Amsterdam but visiting his homeland of Ukraine for the holidays. He was showing his Moroccan friend around and enjoying some hlintvein (mulled wine). Meghan was dared to approach the group of backpackers and say hello. She did — and she and Maksym immediately hit it off. That night involved drinking wine (and smashing the bottle open because they couldn't find a corkscrew), climbing up a high castle, and eventually saying goodbye — possibly forever. You know, one of those people you meet on vacation…
A few months later, Meghan reached out and asked Maksym if she could come visit him in Amsterdam. They were both nervous as they barely knew each other and hadn't spoken in months. But once they met again, it felt effortless. They stayed up talking until the early hours about anything and everything. Meghan fell in love when Maksym gave up his bed and slept on an air mattress like a true gentleman. Maksym fell in love when he realized Meghan could handle her spicy vodka.
Just a week later, COVID-19 changed everything, and they were unable to see each other for months. That didn't stop them from eight-hour Skype calls and Netflix watch parties. When restrictions eased, Meghan moved to Amsterdam to live with Maksym. They spent their time biking through the city, playing squash, and taking boat rides along the canals. When the 2020 school year began, they moved to Granada, Spain, where they enjoyed tapas, flamenco, and long evenings together. In 2021, they decided to move to Ukraine to be closer to Maksym's family. They loved the coffee shops, skiing and hiking in the mountains, and eating his family's incredible food. They felt deeply surrounded by love. In 2022, Russia launched a full-scale war in Ukraine, and their lives changed forever. Thanks to Meghan's parents, they left just ten days before the invasion began. For several months, they lived as refugees, moving between Thailand, Italy, Poland, and Estonia, until they were finally able to come to the United States through the United for Ukraine visa. They spent a few months in Minnesota with Meghan's wonderfully supportive parents, then took a brief detour to San Antonio, Texas, when Maksym's startup was part of an accelerator. After that, they headed to Reno, Nevada, to be closer to dear friends. From 2023 to 2025, they made the most of it: skiing in Tahoe, tubing down the river, and learning far more about rave culture than they ever expected. Eventually they moved to Boulder, Colorado. Mountains, beer, and greenery — what more could they want? They still don't know where they'll end up, and the world feels uncertain at times, but they love being on this adventure together, and there's no other partner they'd ever pick.
Meghan thought they were going on a winter hike near Lake Tahoe. Maksym, however, had something else planned. At the end of the hike, by a frozen lake surrounded by mountains, Maksym got down on one (very chilly) knee and proposed. Even though Meghan couldn't see much through her tears, she says it was the most beautiful moment of her life.
For our friends and family in Ukraine, travel options are currently limited due to the war. We wanted to choose a location that was drivable for many and avoided complicated visa requirements. Staying within the EU made things as simple as possible. For our friends and family in the United States, we wanted a beautiful destination with a major international airport. For our European friends, we hope this feels like the perfect excuse for a long weekend. And for us — how could we not choose Greece? Incredible food, stunning scenery, and people who love staying up late and celebrating just like we do. Whether you're joining us in Greece or cheering us on from afar, thank you for being part of our story.