Steve & Mari

Saturday, August 22, 2026 • New Haven, Connecticut
100 Days To Go!

Steve & Mari

Saturday, August 22, 2026 • New Haven, Connecticut
100 Days To Go!
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Steve and Mari’s love story started where all great love stories begin nowadays: Tinder 📱


After hitting it off online, they met up for a drink at the Old Town Ale House in Chicago. They both said they couldn’t stay long because they had early mornings ahead. As it turns out, “not too long” became hours of nonstop conversation 🍻🎶


That night they learned a lot about each other. They discovered they shared similar values, deep family bonds, and a surprising amount in common. They also realized they were both only temporarily in Chicago—Steve had left his job in New York City to attend Second City, and Mari had traveled from Chile to pursue her Master’s degree at Loyola 🌎


After an unexpected evening filled with conversation and jukebox songs, Steve and Mari knew something special was unfolding ✨


Over the course of the year their friendship grew naturally and soon blossomed into a full-fledged relationship. Mari loved how effortlessly Steve made her laugh and Steve adored how Mari’s smile could light up an entire room 😊


By the end of 2022, Steve and Mari decided they would prefer to hang out with each other all day every day. The following year, they drove from Chicago to Los Angeles together 🚗🌴. Steve set out to pursue comedy and filmmaking, and the two moved in together, beginning a new chapter side by side.


After a couple of years of living together, laughing together, and Mari patiently teaching Steve how to properly do laundry 🧺, Steve and Mari decided they would prefer to hang out with each other all day everyday for the rest of their lives.


But it was not so easy...


Steve decided he was going to ask Mari to marry him during a trip to Montenegro in July 2025. However Mari did not know Steve was planning to propose, so she argued against going out to dinner all day. 😤


After some convincing and fancy planning on the fly, Steve was at last able to persuade Mari to come with him to a fancy restaurant on the water's edge. On the dock, Steve got down on a knee and nervously asked the big question. Thankfully it all worked out as they became officially engaged on a beautiful evening surrounded by some of Mari’s closest friends 💍🌊


Steve is excited for the opportunity to make Mari smile for the rest of their lives ❤️

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La historia de amor de Steve y Mari comenzó donde empiezan hoy en día muchas grandes historias de amor: Tinder 📱


Después de conversar por algunas semanas, se pusieron de acuerdo y se juntaron a tomar algo en Old Town Ale House en Chicago. Ambos manifestaron que no podían quedarse mucho tiempo porque al día siguiente tenían que madrugar. Pero, como suele pasar, ese “ratito” se transformó rápidamente en horas de conversación ininterrumpida 🍻🎶


Esa noche descubrieron muchas cosas el uno del otro. Se dieron cuenta de que compartían valores similares, un fuerte vínculo con sus familias y muchas cosas en común. También notaron que ambos estaban solo temporalmente en Chicago: Steve había dejado su trabajo en Nueva York para asistir a The Second City, y Mari había viajado desde Chile para cursar su MBA en Loyola 🌎


Después de una noche inesperada llena de conversación y canciones que eligieron y tocaron en el jukebox, Steve y Mari supieron que algo especial estaba empezando ✨


Con el paso de los meses, su amistad creció de forma natural y pronto floreció en una relación sólida. A Mari le encantaba lo fácil que Steve la hacía reír, y Steve adoraba cómo la sonrisa de Mari podía iluminar toda una habitación 😊


A fines de 2022, Steve y Mari decidieron que preferían pasar todo el día juntos, todos los días, así que manejaron desde Chicago hasta Los Ángeles 🚗🌴. Steve se propuso seguir su carrera en la comedia y ambos se mudaron juntos, comenzando un nuevo capítulo codo a codo.


Después de un par de años viviendo juntos, riendo juntos y de que Mari le enseñara pacientemente a Steve cómo lavar la ropa correctamente 🧺, Steve y Mari decidieron que querían pasar todo el día juntos, todos los días, por el resto de sus vidas.


Pero no fue tan fácil…


Steve decidió que le pediría matrimonio a Mari durante un viaje a Montenegro en julio de 2025. Sin embargo, Mari no sabía que Steve estaba planeando la propuesta, así que pasó todo el día diciendo que no quería salir a cenar 😤


Después de un poco de insistencia y una planificación elegante improvisada, Steve finalmente logró convencer a Mari de ir a un restaurante elegante junto al agua. En el muelle, Steve se arrodilló y, nervioso, hizo la gran pregunta. Por suerte, todo salió perfecto y se comprometieron oficialmente en una noche hermosa, rodeados de algunos de los amigos más cercanos de Mari 💍🌊


Steve está emocionado por la oportunidad de hacer sonreír a Mari por el resto de sus vidas ❤️

Our first couple picture together at a Chicago pumpkin patch. Mari had never carved a pumpkin before!

October 08, 2022

Our first couple picture together at a Chicago pumpkin patch. Mari had never carved a pumpkin before!
Mari's pumpkin is the cuter one

October 09, 2022

Mari's pumpkin is the cuter one
Mari's first Christmas with the Kaplans. Steve begins his reign of winning the gingerbread house-making competition every year

December 26, 2022

Mari's first Christmas with the Kaplans. Steve begins his reign of winning the gingerbread house-making competition every year
Steve and Mari travel to Chile for the first time! And...

February 24, 2023

Steve and Mari travel to Chile for the first time! And...
Steve makes a friend :)

February 25, 2023

Steve makes a friend :)
Steve meets some of Mari's closest friends and family and embarrasses himself with his terrible Spanish.

March 02, 2023

Steve meets some of Mari's closest friends and family and embarrasses himself with his terrible Spanish.
Steve and Mari begin their journey from Chicago to Los Angeles on an epic adventure across the country via historic Route 66

June 06, 2023

Steve and Mari begin their journey from Chicago to Los Angeles on an epic adventure across the country via historic Route 66
Sullivan, Missouri becoming cave explorers

June 07, 2023

Sullivan, Missouri becoming cave explorers
St. Louis at the Arch

June 08, 2023

St. Louis at the Arch
Oklahoma City going out to dinner and seeing the sights

June 09, 2023

Oklahoma City going out to dinner and seeing the sights
Amarillo, Texas visiting a weird landmark with a bunch of half-buried old school Cadillacs

June 11, 2023

Amarillo, Texas visiting a weird landmark with a bunch of half-buried old school Cadillacs
Winslow, Arizona at one of the best-preserved meteor impact craters on Earth

June 12, 2023

Winslow, Arizona at one of the best-preserved meteor impact craters on Earth
Cornville, Arizona horseback riding with some ranchers we made friends with

June 14, 2023

Cornville, Arizona horseback riding with some ranchers we made friends with
Grand Canyon making sure not to fall in

June 15, 2023

Grand Canyon making sure not to fall in
We finally made it to the West Coast!

June 16, 2023

We finally made it to the West Coast!
Our trip to the Redwood Forest in California! Steve is clearly amazed by the trees

November 10, 2023

Our trip to the Redwood Forest in California! Steve is clearly amazed by the trees
Our second trip to Chile for Mari's 30th birthday!

January 29, 2024

Our second trip to Chile for Mari's 30th birthday!
Steve's family heads to the West Coast for the first time

May 11, 2024

Steve's family heads to the West Coast for the first time
We go cherry picking for the first time

June 16, 2024

We go cherry picking for the first time
Mari tries kayaking for the first time and crushes it

July 26, 2024

Mari tries kayaking for the first time and crushes it
Our first trip to Universal (Mario World was our favorite)

August 10, 2024

Our first trip to Universal (Mario World was our favorite)
Mari accompanies Steve and some of his friends to a short film festival (Steve and his friends won!)

September 17, 2024

Mari accompanies Steve and some of his friends to a short film festival (Steve and his friends won!)
Steve brings his family to visit Chile for the first time!

April 14, 2025

Steve brings his family to visit Chile for the first time!
We get engaged in Montenegro, one of the most beautiful places we've ever been! :)

July 07, 2025

We get engaged in Montenegro, one of the most beautiful places we've ever been! :)