We're getting married!

It’s a tale as old as time: Tinder. That’s right, Tony and I first connected via dating app in October of 2018. I was new to the area and didn't know anybody. A friend suggested I should get out there and start dating. She suggested I try dating apps. “Ugh, but how often do those even work?” I groaned. “Can people resort to dating apps really be decent people?” Well, as it turns out, they can be better than decent. They can be extraordinary, genuine, talented, passionate, and loving. I discovered this on November 2, 2018. This was the night, after about an hour of pacing the length of my apartment and wondering if it was really appropriate to meet up with a perfect stranger, that Tony and I met for the first time. We met at Framingham Beer Works, which was a few short minutes away from my apartment building. I stood at the front and waited for a few minutes, which was just enough time for me to start feeling stupid about thinking that someone was going to meet me here for a date. Seconds into my bout of self-doubt, in walked a tall bespectacled man with a scruffy beard and a head of thick dark hair. Feeling relieved that my date had arrived, I let out a sigh and awkwardly stuck out my hand in a moment of faux confidence for a handshake. We sat across from each other at a table by a window and chatted over drinks. I was a little baffled by how fast he talked and how silly he was. About an hour into the date I realized how much I was smiling, how quickly time was passing, and how comfortable I was. He suggested we go get some ice cream, and after several good-natured “How do I know you aren’t going to kidnap and murder me?” jokes, we got in his car and drove over to McDonalds, ordered McFLurrys and sat in the parking lot while the rain hammered against his car. We waited out the storm and he took me back to my car. Our goodbye was punctuated by our first ever hug and an awkward (but very sweet) kiss on the cheek.

The subject of marriage came up a few short months into our relationship, but Tony refrained from proposing until March 23, 2020. Tony came up with a few great ideas on how to make our engagement perfect. His initial plan was to propose in June during my family's annual lake vacation. Realizing that that was too far away, he decided he wanted to propose when my family visited in April so we could celebrate with both of our families. The plan was to do the cliff walk in Newport, Rhode Island and propose there. However, this plan was quickly derailed by the unexpected pandemic. So on March 23, Tony called me on his way home from work and told me to dress warmly and to be ready to go on a drive and on a walk. He drove us to Newport in what only can be described as a treacherous downpour. We walked by the ocean for maybe three minutes before getting completely soaked by the rain. Although most would classify this as miserable, the moment was miraculously brightened when Tony got down on one knee and proposed. I nodded quickly and was able to squeak out a "yes". Even though nothing went according to plan, I have a feeling this will be one of our favorite stories to tell for years to come.