As most modern romances begin, Dave & Ellen met on a dating app. Unlike literally everyone else they know who met on an app, these two met on Coffee Meets Bagel. Dave's work colleagues were tired of his singledom and created a profile for him. They very critically added the line, "willing to travel to Brooklyn." Ellen is a snob who does not leave Manhattan and Brooklyn. She almost considered not going out with a guy she thought sounded great because he lived in Astoria. When Ellen told Carly this she, very rightfully, told her she was being ridiculous. "You don't even have a reason you have to go home! You don't have a dog! Give this guy a chance!" Dave went out on one date from Coffee Meets Bagel before meeting Ellen. Ellen went on first dates with all of single NYC, including Mr. Met, before meeting Dave. She is still bitter. Their first date was on December 16, 2017. They were originally supposed to meet at Trophy Bar in Williamsburg, but this would be the first of many times that Dave actually consulted the weekend track work schedule and Ellen did not. Turns out the train they both would have needed (shoutout to the G!) was not running. They agreed to meet at Arts & Crafts Beer Parlor in the Village instead. Ellen went to their first date while feeling incredibly ill, but did not want to cancel because she was about to leave for Kentucky to see her family for a week and a half. (This was pre-COVID!) She went, was pretty quiet, and very gingerly sipped a glass of wine before abruptly announcing she needed to leave and giving him an awkward hug. Dave claims that this is the only time he has seen Ellen drink only one glass of wine. Dave chalked it up to her not being interested, but that was not the case. Ellen was trying not to die in front of him, but texted that she had a good time and hoped to see him again. They texted for the next week and a half and went on a second date after her return. Dave unofficially moved into Ellen's studio after that.