If you ask Matthew for the exact date and time of where and when he first matched with Elle on Hinge, he'd no doubt regale you with the smallest of details: the photos he showed to his friends, his opening line, where the sun was in the sky when he stumbled across her profile ... you get the picture. He's a stickler for dates. He knows Elle's family's birthdays better than she does, and remembers the day Elle first said "I love you," the day they became "official," the day she very casually (not) suggested they should get married and, yes, the day of their first date. If you ask Elle, it was sometime in August 2023, right after her 28th birthday, when she and her soon-to-be husband picnicked in a little park near her teeny tiny studio apartment (during peak Georgia summer heat, mind you). Matt will tell you that it was his great idea to have a first date picnic. Elle will say she had the idea conveniently spelled out in her dating profile, in the hopes that someone would take initiative ... and someone sure did. After their first date, Matt sent Elle a four-page, MLA-style essay reviewing the various desserts Elle had packed for their picnic. He titled it "Elle’s Ws: Sweet Treats from a Sweet Person." The essay concluded with the following statement: "I know we’ve only been on one date (and I hope this doesn’t sound like I’m coming on too strong or being presumptuous), but I can already tell that she’s a special person, and I’m excited to see where this takes us." In July 2024, Elle and Matt got engaged while visiting close friends in Denver, Colorado. In November 2024, Elle and Matt moved from Atlanta, Georgia, to Denver to begin their life together. Soon, on their two-year anniversary, the pair will elope in Hvar, Croatia, with a private, seaside ceremony. Thankfully, getting married on their anniversary means it's one less date for Elle to remember.

Elle and Matt have decided that having only one day to celebrate their love will simply not do. Turns out they need nine whole days and three Croatian cities to appropriately tie the knot. The two of them will take off for the Dalmatian Coast on September 21 to eventually meet up with their elopement photographer/videographer and planner extraordinaire, Audrey (who will also be officiating the pair's marriage, bless her). From Elle: It feels right for this ceremony to be kept private, a special moment for just the two of us to cherish. However, we are SO excited to share all the pictures and stories when we return home to celebrate with family and friends. If you have supported us on this wonderful journey, we thank you! There is so much to look forward to. From Matt: Thank you all for your love and support as Elle and I prepare to elope. We can’t wait to experience this moment together, but know that you all will be there with us in our hearts. We can’t wait to celebrate with you afterwards and tell you all about it.