Once upon a time, on September 8, 2022, two adventurous hearts swiped right on Hinge and began a conversation that would change their lives forever. Fast forward to September 25, when they finally decided to meet in person at a burger joint, where their connection sizzled as much as the burgers on the grill! What started as a burger date quickly escalated into a coffee adventure—because why not keep the fun going? However, they were quickly kicked out after realizing the coffee shop closed at 3:00 PM, and they still weren’t ready to part ways. Chad saved the day by asking Stella to help him pick out a birthday card for his mom—one that would make her cry. Stella agreed, but in a plot twist, Chad was the one who picked the perfect card, and Stella was the one who teared up reading it. Little did she know, this was a romantic test, and she passed with flying colors, realizing just how much he cherished his family. Their journey didn’t stop there! They rented a tandem bike and coasted along the beach, taking in the salty breeze and golden hues of the sunset melting over the ocean. As they rode, they spotted a lighthouse in the distance, its light flickering as if winking at their budding romance. It was the kind of moment that felt like it belonged in a movie—just the two of them, lost in conversation and the breathtaking views, feeling like time had slowed down just for them. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Chad exclaimed, “I’ve worked up an appetite!” So, they headed to Yard House for dinner, where the food was as delightful as their conversations. Their unforgettable day didn’t end until 3 a.m., after binge-watching a marathon of The Patient in a Tesla, surrounded by snacks. It was the longest and best day of their lives—filled with laughter, love, and a whole lot of cheesiness (the best kind!). As the night finally came to an end, Stella couldn’t help but feel a little bummed out—after all that, Chad hadn’t asked for her number. But just when she thought she might have to wait for fate to intervene, he surprised her with a message on the app. Playing it cool, he wrote, "In case the app crashes..." and casually dropped his number. Stella laughed, realizing he had simply forgotten in person. "Worth staying up this late," she replied. And from that moment on, they were inseparable.

So, it all started with a trip to Fiji. Stella thought it was just going to be another one of our normal vacations—a little getaway to relax and enjoy some time together, right? Oh, how wrong she was. We’re at TSA, breezing through security, when—plot twist—Chad’s backpack gets flagged. They start questioning him like he’s smuggling state secrets: “Do you have snacks? Meats? Anything that could be considered a potential threat?” Chad, trying to stay cool, gives the most innocent answers: “No, no snacks here, no meats, nothing suspicious, I promise!” Then it hits Stella—*her* backpack has beef jerky in it. She’s already through TSA, and the last thing she wants is for her snacks to be confiscated because let’s be real, when Stella gets hungry, Stella gets hangry. So she’s trying to act all casual, praying her jerky makes it through undetected. Meanwhile, Chad is in full-blown panic mode. Why? Because hidden inside his backpack is *the* ring. Yes, the engagement ring. And he’s got one job—make sure Stella doesn’t notice that he’s sweating bullets. He keeps trying to play it cool, telling her, “Go on ahead, I’ll catch up with you!” And of course, I’m like, “What the heck is going on?” But I just walk away. We finally make it to the hotel, which—by the way—is gorgeous. But Chad’s mind is racing as he tries to figure out the perfect place to propose. Every restaurant we visit, he’s secretly sizing it up like a wedding planner on a mission. “Would this be the right spot? Nah, too many people. This one’s not fancy enough. No, too much sunlight, not enough sunset.” The man is on a mission. Then we head to this fancy little island called Malamala Beach Club, and—oh boy—this is where things start to get wild. We’re minding our own business, enjoying the view, when a group of women starts chatting us up, asking why we’re not married yet. I mean, *come on!* Then, they start insisting we get in the pool. Stella isn’t buying it for a second. She knows *exactly* what’s going on. She’s like, “No way, I’m not getting in that pool. Those ladies just want to get Chad alone so they can throw themselves all over him.” I was *this close* to proposing right then and there, but after the whole pool drama and awkwardness, I decided: "Nope. Not happening here." I had come all this way to find the perfect moment, and that wasn’t it. Instead, I waited for a more special spot—a restaurant we had visited earlier in the trip called **Waitui Bar & Grill.** It was perfect. Intimate. Right on the beach. The most beautiful sunset with the most beautiful woman in the world. And that’s where it all happened. The setting couldn’t have been more ideal. The sunset was just right, the moment finally felt perfect, and it was time. In the end, despite all the chaos—the sneaky jerky smuggling, the TSA stress, and the poolside interruptions—I found *the* perfect place and moment. And that, my friends, is how Chad *almost* proposed in front of a bunch of cougar-loving women at a pool… but instead, chose the most beautiful, peaceful setting in Fiji, just the two of us, surrounded by love. The restaurant cheered when she said "YES!" and a stranger who also happened to be an Instagram Influencer captured the moment on camera and by fate was able to share the video with Stella to share with family and friends.