Every great love story has a beginning… ours just happened to start with six emojis. When Mike messaged me on Hinge, he asked, “Tell me what you like to do for fun, while only using 6 emojis.” My first thought was honestly, this is ridiculous. However, something about it made me laugh enough to answer anyway. One conversation turned into another, then another and before we knew it, we were talking nonstop every single day. At the time, Mike was in Africa and I was in Michigan, so the entire thing felt slightly unreal. We kept joking that neither of us knew if the other person was actually real, but despite the distance, there was this effortless connection neither of us could ignore. Somewhere between the late-night calls, endless messages, and getting to know a stranger from across the world, we realized this was becoming something much bigger than either of us expected. In June 2022, we finally met in person for our first date at a wine bar in downtown Detroit. Since we both love wine, it felt fitting. Hours flew by without us even noticing. We talked so long that we closed the place down and instead of ending the night there, we walked nearly a mile through downtown Detroit so I could get dessert… in heels, nonetheless. Looking back now, it feels very symbolic of us: long conversations, spontaneous adventures, and never really wanting the night to end. From there came countless trips, unforgettable vacations and so many moments that brought us closer together. Along the way, Bali became one of our favorite places in the world. A place that always felt magical to us. So it feels only fitting that Mike chose a breathtaking cliffside resort in Bali to ask the biggest question of all. And of course, I said yes. Now, we’re beginning our next chapter, moving to our new home in Florida where we can build a beautiful life together, grow our family and soak up all the sunshine we possibly can. Not bad for a relationship that started with six emojis.