Once upon a time, two people swiped right on Tinder. Not exactly a fairytale beginning, but it became one anyway, the way real stories do. One of the first things that drew me to Ryan’s profile was his smile, the Dumb and Dumber quotes, and the way he looked genuinely loved in every photo. Ryan says he was drawn to my goofiness, my photo cheesing with my dog Ozzy, and our shared Dumb and Dumber energy. (“Pull over?” “No, it’s a cardigan, but thanks for noticing.”) Our first date was at the Blue Goose in Sharonville. Ryan was so nervous I couldn’t tell if he liked me at first. When I finally asked, he admitted he just really wanted it to go well. That honesty stayed with me. It was my first glimpse of him: thoughtful, sincere, quietly all in. Back then I was used to fast sparks that burned out quickly. What felt different with Ryan was steadiness. There was no guessing. I was chosen clearly from the beginning. Somewhere in the unfolding of everything, I realized I loved him. Not all at once, but gradually. In the ease of sitting beside him. The years that followed shaped us in every way. We grew up together in real time, learning each other and ourselves. We moved through grief, hurt, and medical scares that made life feel fragile at the edges. Eventually there came a season where we had to stop and really look at what we were building. We called off a wedding. It wasn’t an ending, but a pause that asked us to choose honesty over momentum. In that space, we rebuilt not just what we had, but how we wanted to love each other. I’m proud of us for that. For not pushing forward just because it was easier. For sitting in uncertainty long enough to become more intentional. What we had was already beautiful, but it needed truth, care, and our full presence. And in time, everything came full circle. Now we are getting married in the fall at the same venue that once held a different version of this story. Fall has always felt like us: a little nostalgic, honest in its changing. Our life is also built in small rituals. Jeopardy in the background. Antiques Roadshow debates. Me leaving every light in the house on and Ryan tailgating like a pro race car driver. Not polished. Just ours. In 2023, we bought our first home, it’s still becoming in the same way we are. Then came Weller, who settled in like he had always belonged here. We’ve traveled through national parks across the country, each place holding a different version of us: tired, laughing, overwhelmed, quiet, always side by side. Ryan once called our relationship “glamp,” generous, loving, adventurous, meaningful, playful. I might be biased, but it fits. Ryan is steady and patient, with a spontaneous streak. With him, I feel lighter, less guarded, more myself. He says I bring perspective, strength, and vision to our relationship. Together, we make each other feel safe and are fiercely loyal. I used to think love was the absence of doubt. What I know now is that mature love is choosing faith, grace, honesty, and integrity anyway- especially when it’s hard. And through it all, we’ve been held by the friends and family who stayed, showed up, and became the foundation beneath us. To loosely quote our favorite movie, “Love, uh… finds a way.”