♥ A Perfect Match ♥

The modern dating sphere is, to put it lightly, a nightmare to navigate. With so many options out there, it's tempting to not over-invest in any one person (allegedly there are plenty of fish out in the sea), and it's not like Tinder has the best track record for forming lifelong relationships. But with Rochelle and Alex, things were different. Maybe it was because all of his pictures on his profile were of him jumping. Maybe it was because her profile said she was a Pokemon trainer. Maybe it was because his first message in their chat history was him admitting to just waking up from a nap. Long story short: they just clicked. Conversation came easily. It was consistent and fun and engaging. They'd often be each other's first text of the day when they woke up, and last text before eventually falling asleep. But communication over technology only gets so far; they would eventually need to meet in-person.

The first date is the deciding factor on whether or not a relationship will thrive. Without a solid, memorable first date, how can there be a second one? Everyone’s got a different idea of what makes a good activity for a first date. A movie can be entertaining, but there’s not much room to talk and get to know each other. Outdoor activities were out of the question, considering it was the dead of winter. The hypothetical list of good date ideas went on and on, and each new option sounded more and more cliche. Eventually, Alex and Rochelle agreed on a fun, unconventional idea: a trip to Target. By chance, they both received Target gifts cards as Christmas presents, so what better way to spend them than spending them together? Despite such a casual idea, that didn’t stop our future lovebirds from letting their nerves get the best of them. Both of them spent the entire day not knowing what to expect and wondering how the night would play out. Time flew by, much faster than they were prepared for, and it was time to actually meet. Entering from opposite doors, the two made their way toward the middle, resolving to meet the other halfway. Hearts pounded and breaths hitched as the person they knew purely as a text bubble in a message thread became a real, visible, tangible person. Even though they’d exchanged countless texts, audible words did not come easy. Alex opted for a formal introduction, offering a handshake and a simple “Hi, I’m Alex.” With an eyeroll and a smile, Rochelle took his hand back, answering, “Hi, I’m Rochelle.” You can find a lot of things at Target, but who would've guessed Alex and Rochelle had found their future spouse there.

Photography is a shared passion between Alex and Rochelle. Alex may have went to school for it, but Rochelle loves its ability to create memories. If you look in her camera roll, you’ll find a neverending treasure trove of memories: places they’ve been, meals they’ve eaten, and smiles they’ve shared. On their fourth anniversary, Alex gave Rochelle his final present, a roll of 35mm film. He pulled the slack of film out of the canister, beckoning her to follow his lead. Rochelle raised an eyebrow and looked at him skeptically. She knew pulling a roll of film out of its canister meant ruining it, but she trusted him anyway, reluctantly pulling the film out, inch by inch. To her surprise, a picture was on the film already: a screenshot of when Tinder matched them together. She pulled more, and the next frame was their very first picture together. The next being the first picture they took after formally becoming boyfriend and girlfriend. A smile crept onto her face and she continued pulling. Each new frame contained a picture that captured a sort of “first,” picked carefully from the large archive of images they'd made together. As they approached the end of the roll, Alex paused. After a nervous gulp, he said finally, "A picture is worth a thousand words, but I only need seven." Rochelle listened intently, watching as Alex pulled the last of the film out, which showed two frames containing only text: "Rochelle Anne Gammad, will you marry me?"