Brittany and Bryce began talking in February 2019 on Bumble. Bryce was one of the first profiles Brittany saw and she was instantly intrigued by his answers to the profile questions and his photos. She swiped right and hoped for the best. To her surprise, it was an instant match. She stumbled over how to start the conversation because a simple "hi" did not seem sufficient. She opted for a simple hello and anxiously awaited his reply. Once the conversation started, playful banter, relatively deep conversations (especially with someone you've never met), and daily discussions ensued. There were several other conversations going with other users, but few got past a few exchanges and no others were worth the time and energy. Bryce and Brittany joked that they were a "perfect match," but in the beginning, neither knew how ultimately true that was. They talked for nearly a month before setting up a first date. Brittany remembers being incredibly nervous, but also incredibly excited to create a real relationship with him. Bryce recalls being in the mindset of finding someone to have a long term relationship with, to potentially marry, and to start a family with one day. On February 23, Brittany met up with Bryce for their first date.

The two headed to Nashville, which was about an hour drive from their hometown. The easy conversation from Bumble transferred into face to face conversations. They talked about work, family, music, and movies on the way to Nashville. First things first, Bryce took Brittany to race go karts. While they waited to race, they played a round of mini golf and asked typical first date questions-- dreams, ambitions, and travel goals. Then came racing time. Bryce hands down beat Brittany and most other competitors in the race, but the two had a blast. After the races, Bryce took Brittany to Pinewood Social, an upscale bar near the river that specializes in cocktails made by creative and fun mixologists. The two shared drinks and continued engaging in delightful conversation. Initially, Bryce had intended on dinner at the Treehouse, but changed his plans to Rodizio's, a Brazilian steakhouse in the heart of downtown. The two talked about everything during dinner-- politics, religion, career goals, ideal futures, and everything in between. Both Bryce and Brittany expressed that they weren't looking for a casual relationship or a fling. They wanted a real, meaningful relationship that could one day turn into a fulfilling life. Their first date was nearly 10 hours long (no kidding), but the time seemed to fly by so quickly. Neither of them wanted to say goodnight. Bryce felt happy, confident and elated after their first date and definitely wanted to continue pursuing the relationship. Brittany had similar feelings; she already felt treasured and supported by Bryce. She was the happiest she ever had been and longed for Bryce to ask her out again.

On March 2, Bryce and Brittany went on another official date. They had met up for impromptu dinner dates during the week. While waiting for their turn at the escape room, Bryce asked Brittany to be his steady, to commit to one another and continue to see where this relationship led. Brittany was beyond ecstatic and promptly accepted. Bryce and Brittany spent practically every weekend together exploring all the things to do in and around Nashville. Bryce attended Brittany's graduation from grad school and celebrated with her family, who quickly became smitten with him. Bryce and Brittany continued to cultivate their relationship and fell more and more in love with each other.

Gatlinburg became a favorite place of Bryce and Brittany. It was where their first vacation together was, and in December it became so much more. Christmas time in Gatlinburg is absolutely stunning with the Christmas lights. Brittany absolutely loves Christmas, and she was so excited to explore the town during the holiday season. The two headed to Dollywood with both his and her parents. Bryce loves roller coasters so the two raced between the roller coasters. Then they found the Black Bear Christmas tree. The ginormous tree of lights tells the story of Black Bear meeting Polar Bear and celebrating Christmas together. After the light show, the two settled down on a bench in front of the tree to take a photo. Bryce turned to Brittany and said, "Can I ask you a question?" to which Brittany mindlessly responded, "Yeah, sure" without actually looking at him. He pressed, "No seriously, can I ask you a question?" She tapped him on the shoulder and said "Yeah, what?" while redirecting Bryce back to the cameras. Bryce knelt down on one knee and said "I love the hell out of you. Will you marry me?" Brittany couldn't believe it. She quickly accepted, hugged him, and watched as he placed a beautiful ring on her finger.