On November 11, 2024, Morgan Gstalter opened Hinge to discover a new like. Hinge, in all of its infinite wisdom, had listed one Zachary Welch as her "most compatible." His profile: Several references to Broadway, pictures in Iceland, and a declaration of his support of human rights. Her profile: Snapshots from a trip to London, her love of bookstores, and her irrational fear of eyeballs. Although Zach had swiped right first — he had moved to the Washington, D.C area mere weeks before — it was Morgan who sent the first message, calling his profile "full of green flags." After several weeks of talking about books, theater, and a love of restaurant hunting, the pair decided to meet at The Looking Glass Lounge for their first date on December 4, 2024. One date was all it took for Morgan to text her sister that she had met her husband — and they have been together ever since. Their relationship blossomed in 2025, and the pair quickly fell in love — Bernadette gave her immediate approval. They celebrated their 30th birthdays with a trip to New York City to see some Broadway shows and made several trips back to the Midwest to meet family. Exactly one year after their first date, surrounded by books in an intimate proposal, Zach got down on one knee and popped the question.