we're madly in love. let's celebrate.

In fall 2021, we connected on a dating app. We bonded over the fact that we both had cute girl dogs that were the same age. Anthony is still in Ashley's phone as "Anthony 🐶".

We met at Kitty Cohen's, a cocktail bar in East Austin. Ashley ordered an Aperol spritz. Anthony got an old fashioned. We soon realized that Anthony had walked through Ashley's hometown- Aurora, Illinois- when he walked across America. He didn't have to walk 500 miles to get to her, but he unintentionally did. If only our paths crossed then. :) The date was going so well that we moved to La Holly for another drink and some food truck tacos. Anthony ended the date by poking fun at Ashley's combat boots. And he's never heard the end of it since. After the date, Anthony told a friend that he thought Ashley was "the one." Despite Anthony's certainty, he had to wait a few months for their next date.

Fast forward to October 2022- Ashley headed to London for work. She spent the 10 hour flight thinking about the qualities she wanted in a partner. Looking through the list of important qualities, she realized Anthony hit every box and then some. We had stayed in touch here and there over social media, where Anthony was always supportive of Ashley from afar. So when Ashley landed back in Austin, her first text at the airport was to Anthony to ask him to go for a walk. We've been together ever since.