Their story began with a simple Bumble match in 2023, during their shared favorite month, October. Even before their first date, Heather asked TJ an important question: was he a fan of Reservoir Pizza in South Orange? He said yes—a good first sign, because Heather had grown up eating Reservoir Pizza with her uncle. Just six days later, they met in person for their first date at Cioffi’s. It didn’t take long for them to realize this connection felt different, and they quickly knew they wanted to date exclusively. Heather won over TJ’s heart on their second date—but TJ had to wait until the third date to fully win hers. It happened at a paint-and-sip art class when TJ arrived with a bottle of ginger ale just for Heather. He had noticed she ordered one on their first and second date. That small, thoughtful gesture sealed the deal. TJ soon won over the heart of this Jersey girl—though her cat, Thatcher, was far more skeptical and took a bit longer to decide whether TJ was worthy of sticking around (turns out, he was). Through a shared love of family and food, their connection continued to grow. TJ shared his hobby of birding, while Heather could always count on TJ’s support at her volleyball and softball games. Along the way, they discovered new passions together, from cheering on the New Jersey Devils to learning ballroom dancing. With a shared sense of adventure and growing wanderlust, they love traveling and exploring new places side by side. What began with a right swipe on Bumble has grown into a life filled with love, laughter, and meaningful moments as they continue their journey into marriage together.