We’re Erika and Alex, two lovebirds whose paths were always near but never quite crossed until fate stepped in. From childhood to college, we were geographically close, yet our lives never overlapped. It wasn’t until we met on Hinge that everything fell into place, and we realized we’d been destined for each other all along. Our first date was at Level 7, a rooftop bar in North Hills. It was filled with laughter, Erika sharing childhood photos, and a surprising connection over shared values: family, fun, and real, genuine bonds. As summer rolled around, Erika’s family vacationed in Maine, a place that had always been special to her. It was there that Erika and Alex began talking about the future, and everything felt so right—we could both easily picture our wedding in Maine someday. The proposal? Well, Alex had been planning in secret. He wanted to make sure that both his and Erika’s families were in town to share in the special moment, so he orchestrated a surprise date to downtown Cary Park during Christmas time. It was the spot where we’d had our third date, and many after that. As we walked through the Christmas lights, Alex got down on one knee and asked Erika to be his forever. And here we are, excited and ready to celebrate the next chapter of our lives, proving that when you know, you know. We can’t wait to begin this journey together and share our big day with the people we love most.