Three years ago I grew a beard for No Shave November. Ended up keeping it for December too when I flew home to see family and surprise my sister at her firefighter academy graduation. She looked directly at me in the reception hall and didn't recognize me, because I thought the surprise was spoiled, then she looked away. I went up to her a few minutes later and sat down in the chair next to her and she said "sorry, this chair is saved for someone" and then it took her a minute before she realized.

I also met my wife for the first time with my beard. She loved it!