Our story began almost five years ago, in the spring of 2021. From the moment we met, there was a spark—an unmistakable sense that we saw something special in each other. But after a few conversations, we realized we were in different phases of life, and timing just wasn’t on our side. So we stayed in touch, quietly rooting for one another from a distance. Fast forward to late summer 2022. I had just dislocated my finger in a softball game, and throughout that time, Katy and I had continued to check in here and there. This time, though, something felt different. Katy reached out with genuine care, and our conversations deepened. She was in the final stretch of earning her Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from UC, and suddenly, the timing that once felt off began to fall perfectly into place. What had been a friendship started to grow into something much more. If you’ve noticed a few Top Gun references sprinkled throughout our wedding details, there’s a reason. Our very first date was at the drive‑in to see Top Gun: Maverick—a night that set the tone for everything that followed. Over the past couple of years, our relationship has been nothing short of exceptional. With Katy working in Dayton in pediatric speech pathology and myself in Cincinnati in employee benefits, we’ve spent countless hours traveling up and down I‑75. Those miles became a backdrop for learning about each other, exploring each other’s cities, and building a foundation rooted in patience, joy, and commitment. Last fall, the I‑75 commute finally started to feel like it was coming to an end—not because the distance changed, but because I asked Katy to marry me, and we began dreaming about a future lived side by side. We are so grateful for the love and support from all of you—near and far—who have been part of our journey. We cannot wait to celebrate with you and begin this next chapter together. August, here we come! —Matthew & Katy