We're getting hitched!

Bradley - It all started on what seemed like an ordinary breakfast date at Everyday Eatery. From the moment I saw her, I was blown away—she was incredibly attractive and effortlessly cool. Honestly, I felt like she was way out of my league, so I awkwardly ended the date by suggesting we could see other people while we continued going out. Not exactly the smoothest move. But despite that clumsy ending, we just couldn’t stay away from each other. We had these amazing conversations, especially over the phone while I was helping at a high school summer camp, filled with laughter and deep talks. In no time, our casual hangouts turned into something more serious. Within two weeks, we decided to make it official, drawn together by a connection that was impossible to ignore, shared values, and a deep respect for each other’s personalities. What really made her stand out was her ambitious, go-getter attitude. She wasn't just dreaming of the ordinary—she had big visions for her life that were as dynamic as her personality. Whether it was traveling to far-off places or starting a coffee cart business for weddings, her dreams were contagious. I found myself not just falling for her, but also for the incredible things she wanted to achieve. Being part of her life, supporting her ambitions, and building something together became my new dream. Every twist and turn, every high and low since that imperfect first date, has only made me love and appreciate her more. Our story proves that sometimes, the most imperfect moments can lead to the strongest connections. Kathlena: On July 1st, 2023, we sent our first messages to each other on a dating app, not thinking it would be the last "first message" we would ever send. I was drawn to his profile but was intimidated a bit by his job of working at the church and needed a few people to push me and tell me to go on that first date. I was excited but tried to keep my expectations low. Having been on many first dates, I knew exactly what I was looking for. There were always some qualities that were missing from the dates that I had been on, the main thing being the same values/faith/chemistry. Bradley quickly scheduled the date the following morning to an Aussie coffee shop (Everyday Eatery) for breakfast burritos and coffee. Conversation flowed and for once there were no red flags! It was decided to go on a second date the following day, before he was leaving to be camp counselor for a high school camp for a week. Going on the date with Bradley I quickly saw all my important checkboxes being checked off. The second date was supposed to be a sunset snack picnic in Dana Point, but after driving 45 minutes there, it was sadly gloomy. Bradley wanted the date to go absolutely perfect so he immediately u-turned and drove me back to Saddleback Rancho Retreat Center, where we played a question game called We Were Never Really Strangers. The date ended up being 6 hours and the rest was history. Bradley left for his high school retreat and they called and texted throughout the week. 2 weeks later, it was official. We became girlfriend and boyfriend. Here we are one year and some change later, and we are engaged!