Both giving the modern tech-y way of dating a try, Austin and Claire matched on April 8, 2020. Shortly after they matched on Hinge, the two had their first Facetime date. Austin went home from an evening with his mom and sister because this was a Facetime call he was so excited about, and Claire nervously had a bowl of food next to her phone, but not in sight of the camera because she wasn’t sure if this was a virtual dinner date or more of a chat. The two hit it off after hours of conversation and had their first real date a week later, a romantic walk and picnic along the river in St. Paul. While the beginnings of their relationship looked different than most, almost the entire state of MN was shut down, they cherished their deep conversations, hours of true uninterrupted quality time, and intentional quarantine dates that Austin so thoughtfully planned. It wasn’t long after that the two knew that this was the real deal and were grateful God had given them each other in a time like this. Five months later, Austin proposed to Claire, and (obviously) she said yes! They say “when you know, you know” and they KNEW. Not wanting to delay what God had planned for them, they picked a wedding date a few months away and started planning! The story of Austin and Claire is one laced with intricate details and packed with fulfilled promises from God. They are ecstatic about what the future holds, and can’t wait to celebrate with their loved ones, whether it’s in person, or virtually!