We're Getting Married!

Benjamin and Olivia matched on Hinge in August 2021… and Olivia ignored him until November (she had sworn off dating). Over Thanksgiving break they finally started talking non-stop, and Ben asked for her phone number — not Snapchat — and took her to Meow Wolf for their first date. Wow. A man. They barely spoke inside (just smiled and blushed) but ended up at dinner anyway — even though Olivia had a Differential Equations final the next day. Dinner lasted four hours. They didn’t touch their food because they couldn’t stop talking. At one point the waiter said, “I’ve never seen a happier couple — you give me hope for the world.” Olivia told Ben the three things she considered to be her biggest red flags (might as well get it out of the way right?): 1. "I rode horses competitively growing up." - She figured he would think she was a weird horse girl and not be interested. 2. "I have autoimmune arthritis and don't really hike or workout heavily because of it." - So many guys wanted a hiking buddy or a gym buddy and that was just not the role she could play in their lives. She figured he would hear "autoimmune disease" and not be interested. 3. "I am deathly afraid of spiders." - No one takes the "deathly" part seriously enough. Ben didn’t care. To this day, he swears her only real red flag is being left-handed. Since then they’ve traveled the world together (four countries in three years and counting), supported each other through life’s toughest seasons — from family loss and career challenges to Olivia’s arthritis flares (Ben has literally carried her when she couldn’t walk, helped her shower, and done every chore without complaint) — and celebrated countless joys side by side. In March 2025, during a dream trip to the Scottish Highlands, Ben brought Olivia to the dramatic coastline in front of Smoo Cave. The wind had been wild all day, but down by the cave it was calm — just the sound of the ocean and the waterfall echoing inside the cliffs. Surrounded by the quiet magic of the Highlands, Ben got down on one knee and asked Olivia to marry him. They both cried, said “yes!” through happy tears, and were immediately rushed by an older Scottish couple who were so excited they hugged them, cheered, and snapped photos for them. It was simple, breathtaking, and utterly unforgettable. Now they can’t wait to begin the next chapter: committing to forever, surrounded by the people they love most. Thank you for being part of their story.