On August 4, 2024, Nikki and David matched on Hinge and immediately connected over their shared love of playing the guitar. David made the smooth and admittedly clever move of asking for Nikki’s number so he could share some of his guitar recordings. It worked, and everything unfolded naturally from there. Their first date was a screening of Deadpool & Wolverine. David picked Nikki up in his truck, which didn’t have A/C. It’s a story they still laugh about today, especially how Nikki sat there trying not to melt while pretending she was fine. Afterward, they went to Firkin & Fox and played We’re Not Really Strangers, a card game meant to spark deeper conversations. It did exactly that. By September 1, they were officially together and haven’t gone a day without talking since. But real love grows the most during the hard seasons. Not long after they made things official, Nikki started an intense LVN to RN nursing bridge program, and David began working long, exhausting night shifts as a millwright above Auburn. Their time together shrank to just a few hours each week, but their connection never did. They continued to show up for one another in every way that mattered, even when distance and schedules made it difficult. After months of hard work and missing each other, they finally reunited. On May 16, 2025, David took Nikki on a trip to Murphys, CA, for a day of wine tasting at Ironstone Vineyards. By a quiet pond surrounded by spring blooms, he got down on one knee and asked her to spend forever with him. As if that wasn’t enough, David had secretly arranged for both of their families to join them for a surprise celebration lunch at the historic Murphys Hotel. Now, they’re planning their next big adventure: marriage. Their story is rooted in laughter, friendship, and steady, everyday support. Whether they are playing music together, sharing inside jokes, or lifting one another through life’s challenges, Nikki and David choose each other every single day. And this is only the beginning. 💍