Q. Where did you both grow up?
Hunter and Claire grew up moving around quite a bit, although both consider Texas home. Hunter is from Fort Worth, and Claire is from Austin. Hunter was born in New Orleans and lived in Alaska, Houston, Dallas, Malaysia, and Fort Worth. Claire was born in Atlanta and grew up in Germany, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, and Massachusetts.
Q. What are your chosen professions?
Hunter is a technical director for film and Claire is an actress.
Q. How did you meet?
We met first in a writing class our second semester of college at NYU in 2014. Hunter was always ready to go and participated in class and Claire was usually 10 minutes late with a coffee in hand. We knew of each other but never really spoke. A year later we worked on the same short film together through a mutual friend and had to kiss with chocolate all over our faces (it was art school don’t ask haha) on a cold February afternoon. We got to talking that day and realized we had a lot in common. We got coffee the next week and have been together ever since.
Q. Tell me about the proposal?
We got engaged in October of 2020 in Santa Monica. It was during the height of both the pandemic and the CA wildfires. The three of us (Claire, Hunter, and our dog Queso) were riding it out in our studio apartment. Hunter told me that we were going to the beach to take some nice pictures for his Grandmother so we got dressed up and walked towards the beach. As we walked, it got foggier and foggier. It sort of looked and felt like we got engaged during the apocalypse. But it was a really sweet moment. We had a lovely dinner and face-timed friends and family to share the news.
Q. What are a few places that are special to you. This could be a vacation, a local hiking spot, where you met, something you enjoy doing together locally, etc. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy; just someplace you have made memories together.
We have made a lot of memories together in different places. First, in NYC during college. Every Sunday we would walk around and try to find a new place to eat brunch every weekend. We had a few places where we were regulars together and would often sit at the same table. When Hunter was working in Boston, I would visit on the weekends and we would take Queso and go on hikes through the nature reserves. Many memories revolve around food, the Ukrainian diner in the East Village, dumpling house in Needham, and tacos in the West Village.
Q. When you can do anything you want to do, what do you do? i.e. what are your hobbies, what do you like to do in your leisure time, what makes you happy when you are spending time together?
We love taking care of our dog Queso and spending time with family. Claire loves to cook and is always experimenting with new recipes. We like trying new things together, be it tennis, video games, or a swing dancing class. We also love seeing movies together, going to broadway shows, swapping favorite TV shows and just enjoying spending time together. And occasionally getting into very competitive ping-pong games.
Q. What is your favorite music and/or songs that mean the most to you as a couple? Any special concerts you attended together? A playlist of sorts would be great! And any stories are great too!
We have had a lot of fun concert experiences together: Shania Twain in Dallas, Maren Morris in NYC, and several others.
Q. What are your favorite foods/restaurants? Are either of you into cooking at home?
Claire loves to cook at home and Hunter likes to watch, although sometimes he gets in there. We love Mexican food, Italian food, and Thai. Claire is vegetarian and Hunter is not, but his vegetable intake has increased throughout the relationship.
Q. What are you the most proud of about your partner? Brag about them to me!
Hunter: Her resiliency during auditions, not being too discouraged during the lows and always nailing it when getting the opportunity. She really shows up for everything she does. And for becoming a dog person 🙂
Claire: I am most proud of his positivity, ability to make the best of any situation and I really admire his work ethic and how he always continues to grow in his work.
Q. Any kids or pets? Tell me about them!
We have a 2-year-old golden doodle named Queso. He is the light of our lives and we love him. He is a giant goober and hilarious.
Q. What do you love most about your partner?
Both: I love how much fun we have together during the big things and the ordinary everyday things. We think we are a good team 🙂
Q. What are each of your favorite drinks when you are celebrating? Craft beer, wines, cocktails, bubbly, or a mocktail?
Hunter: Margarita with salt
Claire: Either a spicy margarita or Moscow mule
Q. What are your favorites drinks for Sunday mornings? Special herbal teas? Love a particular coffee? Bloody Marys?
Both: COFFEE We love espresso.
A special thanks to the vendor team:
Venue: Omni Barton Creek
Planner: Verve Events (Barbara Shorts & Sarah Surprise)
Florist: David Kurio Designs
Cake/Desserts: Polkadots Cupcake Factory
Catering: Omni Barton Creek
Ceremony Music: Castle Hill String Quartet
Reception Music: Matchmaker Band
Hair & Makeup: Jessi Pagel
Stationery: Kelsey Laine