It's funny to think the story started with two people meeting on a dating app — because from the very first conversation, Ellie and Brad felt like people who'd been finding each other for a long time. What began as curiosity turned into hours of talking, the kind where you forget to check the time and don't want to hang up. Their first date set the tone for everything after. Brad took Ellie to an outdoor orchestra concert on a warm August evening, and afterward they lingered over delicious dinner and drinks. The whole day moved effortlessly, the way the best days do — neither of them trying, both of them paying attention. By the end of the night, they already knew something rare was beginning. It was the kind of date you wish you could live again, slowly, just to feel it twice. They've built a life since then that's full of love, adventure, and an unreasonable number of good meals. As self-proclaimed foodies, many of their favorite memories have been made sitting across from each other — trying somewhere new, returning to a favorite spot, sharing desserts they swore they wouldn't order, and planning the next place to eat before they've even finished the current one. Some of the best conversations of their relationship have happened over plates they were supposed to be eating. Their personalities fit together in a way that still surprises them. Ellie is the playful one, the emotional one, the one who keeps life from ever getting too still. Brad is the steadier voice, the one who reasons things through and sees the long arc. He keeps her grounded; she keeps him alive to the moment. Between them, there is laughter, real support through the hard parts, and the kind of love that grows quieter and deeper the longer you stay in it. Their little family grew quickly. Between their two gray cats Ash and Whisk, and their dog Fig, the home is never quiet and never dull. Life together is busy, chaotic, and exactly the kind of life they wanted. One of the things Ellie loves most about Brad is the way he holds a vision for the future — not only for the two of them, but for the kind of mark he wants to leave on the world. Long before they were engaged, Ellie was already working alongside him on a nonprofit close to both their hearts. To share a sense of purpose with the person you love — to be partners not only in life but in the work that matters most — has turned out to be one of the deepest gifts of their relationship. What Brad loves most about Ellie is her openness to life: her willingness to find joy in whatever the day brings, her resilience when things don't go to plan, the way she makes ordinary moments feel like something worth remembering. She keeps him on his toes, and she keeps him in love. And then came one of the most unforgettable nights of their lives. During the holiday lights show at the Botanic Gardens in December 2025, surrounded by quiet snow and the glow of a thousand winter lights, Brad led Ellie beneath an illuminated arch and asked her to marry him. It was romantic, emotional, the kind of moment that doesn't feel real until later, when you replay it in your mind and realize it actually happened. A scene from a movie, except it was theirs. They are excited to continue to build a life full of adventure, love, purpose, pets, and very good food. And now, they are so excited to celebrate the next chapter of their story with all the people they love most.