8 years in the making
“I was immediately besotted, completely taken in by Alena’s friendliness, honesty, and integrity”
— Joachim (in his testimony to the Home Office for an unmarried partner application)
“From the beginning, I remember thinking, how will this work if Joachim and I fall in love? But my motto throughout our story has always been: if there is a will, there is a way”
— Alena (in her testimony to the Home Office for an unmarried partner application)
The Meet Cute
as recalled by Joachim
“I remember our first meeting vividly, as if it was yesterday. Just across from the train station in Bath is a small café named Café Au Lait where Alena had suggested we meet as I was coming in by train, which unbeknownst to me at the time would become a very regular commute.
Having never actually met anyone from the online dating world in person before, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. What I thought would be an amiable 30-minute cup of coffee turned into a 4-hour long conversation that spanned topics from sports, music, politics, travel and pretty much anything else you can fit into a 4-hour talk with a person you’ve never met before.
I was immediately besotted, completely taken in by Alena’s friendliness, honesty, and integrity and how, for that entire 4 hours, there was never a single lull in conversation. We instantly clicked on a very deep and human level.
Ever since that first meeting in Bath, Alena and I have been inseparable and the love that has grown between us profound and unlike anything I have experienced in my life. Alena’s integration into my life was seamless and she has become an inextricable part of my life. With the addition of our much-loved dog Poppy we are well on our way to building a family together. Marriage is definitely on the cards as well, a bit further down the line, but there is no doubt that our lives are completely intertwined and where she (and the dog) go, I go.”
—Joachim
(in his testimony to the Home Office for an unmarried partner application)
The Meet Cute
as recalled by Alena
“I met him for the first time by the Bath train station, just outside the arrivals door. I remember being super excited that…
1. He looked like he did in his Tinder pictures
2. He was willing to travel to Bath for this first date.
We then sat down in the coffee shop called Café au Lait—it’s located just across the street from the train station, making it super easy to have a quick date. I remember we sat at the window table, which was a cosy window-nook-style seat.
I ordered a coffee and he ordered a juice. Learning he didn’t like coffee made me question whether he was human, but he assured me he knew how to make it, which he said mattered more. (I have appreciated this nearly every morning to this day.)
Over the course of 4 hours, I only had that one coffee. Surprisingly, I normally would have gotten a second, but I was so absorbed by our conversation. We talked about the similarities we shared: the UK was where we lived, although not our home country. I liked this part the most, I really felt connected to him because we shared the experience of living abroad and not being close to home. Plus, we’re on a constant cultural journey. We’re adopting the best parts of our heritage, both Danish and American, while building new traditions steeped in all things British.”
—Alena
(in her testimony to the Home Office for an unmarried partner application)
…and the rest is history
After meeting in 2015, Alena and Joachim lived in Bath until 2018, when they moved to Fulham, London, where they currently live with their 7-year-old dog, Poppy.
