Before Matthew, I spent some time navigating the modern dating world-trying apps here and there, meeting people, and learning exactly what I didn’t want. While the process wasn’t always glamorous, it made one thing very clear: I was holding out for the right person. One night, while my friend Chelsea was in town visiting from Nashville, we decided to watch the Buffal Bills game together and we decided to turn dating into entertainment and have what we called a “swipe party.” With zero expectations, plenty of laughs, and the firm belief that Bumble was trash, I downloaded the app anyway...and we went to swiping. Then Matthew appeared. He looked like someone who genuinely loved life-outdoorsy, happy, and suspiciously normal. Against all odds (and my own opinions), I swiped right. Matthew later admitted that when he came across my profile, he knew he had to match with me and even had the bold thought that I might be “the one.” Since Bumble requires the woman to message first, I opened with an incredibly smooth and irresistible introduction… about kayaking. Somehow, it worked. What followed was the best conversation I’d ever had on an app. Matthew was thoughtful, thorough, funny, and actually knew how to carry a conversation, which was an immediate green flag. We decided to meet for breakfast for our first date. From the moment we sat down, it felt easy. So easy, in fact, that the waiter refused to believe it was our first date because we looked far too comfortable with each other. I really sealed the deal when I confidently reached for my wallet when the check arrived, though in true gentleman fashion, Matthew insisted on paying. From that day on, we became each other’s favorite people. In the spring of 2022, we moved into a farmhouse together. Our seventeen-year-old dog instantly fell in love with the huge yard (arguably more than she fell in love with us). Since then, we’ve been fixing up the farmhouse piece by piece, turning it into a home filled with laughter, love, and a whole lot of projects. All because of one Bills game, one “trash” app, and one very lucky swipe to the right. 🤍

In the summer of 2025, my sister suggested we go on a waterfall hike, which is one of my favorite things to do (aka waterfall hunting). The timing, however, was less than ideal: she had just gotten back from a trip, and it was scheduled on a full-blown heat advisory day. I immediately said no. My reasoning was simple and very logical: Matthew was actually off work that day, and I wanted to spend time with him instead. What I didn’t know was that my sister immediately reached out to Matthew and said, “She said no—what do I do?” Thinking quickly, she brought up her boyfriend and suggested they come too, turning it into a casual double date. Suddenly, the hike sounded a little more convincing, and I agreed. When we reached the waterfall...we were hot, sweaty, and wondering why we ever say yes to outdoor activities in extreme weather. Matthew told me to look at the falls so he could take a picture from behind. I was just about to turn around and tell him that it was going to be a very stupid picture. Instead, I turned around to the most sparkly diamond I have ever seen. Matthew was on one knee, smiling, and before he could even finish what he was saying, I said yes and immediately put the ring on. No hesitation. No questions. Just pure surprise, happy tears, and the easiest yes of my life right there at the waterfall. Turns out, waterfall hunting, heat advisories, and a very well-executed double date lead straight to forever. 💍