Aly and Matt kayaked down the Big Sioux River for their first date. Matt brought the Corona, and Aly brought the limes. By the third date, they both knew it was love, and they've been inseparable ever since.
Matt lured Aly out of the apartment on New Year's Eve 2019 with assistance from their neighbors, Shane and Yannick, who proposed Happy Hour drinks at a downtown restaurant (something they knew Aly couldn't resist). While crossing a bridge over the Big Sioux River, where they had their first date two and a half years prior, Matt got down on one knee (in the snow) and proposed to her. He had successfully kept the whole thing a surprise, and even hired a local photographer to capture the moment. It was a magical ending to the year.