The short answer to how Amanda and Tyler met is that they connected on the dating app Hinge in August 2022. However, it was a bit of a unique encounter. Amanda liked one of Tyler’s photos, and he followed up with a very thoughtful message. Amanda was just about to delete the dating apps (once again), but after receiving Tyler’s message, she thought, okay, I’ll see where this goes. After a couple of days of messaging, Amanda found out that Tyler was actually not in Colorado like his profile said (though he does have an apartment there), but instead was on an Army National Guard deployment in Kuwait. Sayyy whaaat?! Amanda was trying to understand his game plan—was he coming back next month? When would they be able to go on a real date?! Tyler responded that he wouldn’t be back in Colorado for six months… SIX MONTHS?! Amanda was concerned about putting time and energy into someone she wouldn’t be able to see for that long. But then Tyler brilliantly suggested a FaceTime date (keeping in mind there was an 8+ hour time difference). So, on September 1st, Amanda and Tyler had their first FaceTime date. It went so well that they continued messaging every week and FaceTiming every couple of weeks. As the months passed, Amanda anxiously waited to finally meet Tyler in person. It was looking like mid-February would be when he returned home. Unfortunately, at the end of January, Amanda suffered a massive concussion while skiing. It was severe enough that she had to stay home from work for weeks and gradually work her way back to full time. She wasn’t her bubbly, active self and was forced to take it easy in order to heal. Amanda had so many plans for what she and Tyler would do together, but those plans were put on hold so she could recover and lay low. Their first in-person date ended up being on Valentine’s Day—the day Tyler returned to Colorado. He came over to Amanda’s with pink flowers for a modified date, where they walked around Commons Park and picked up takeout for dinner. Amanda and Tyler continued going on dates over the next month or so—still modified due to Amanda’s frequent headaches, which could be debilitating and sometimes cut their dates short. Tyler asked Amanda to be his girlfriend in March, but Amanda was hesitant. She worried that Tyler hadn’t yet seen the “real Amanda” and wanted to be sure he knew what he was getting himself into. Normally, Amanda lives a fast-paced, high-energy, fun-packed lifestyle, and Tyler hadn’t experienced that side of her during her recovery. So, they decided to give it one more week—and then officially became boyfriend and girlfriend. Looking back on their “how we met” story, they wouldn’t want it any other way. Being able to connect virtually and truly get to know each other—aligning on values, morals, future goals, and life desires—helped create an incredible foundation for their relationship. Amanda and Tyler have spent endless time outdoors—hiking, camping, skiing, running, and biking. Amanda is originally from Texas, and Tyler is originally from Michigan, and they ultimately love living in Colorado and making the most of being so close to the mountains, enjoying outdoor activities year-round. Tyler and Amanda moved in together in Golden, CO in November of 2024. Living right in the foothills of the rockies is truly a dream! They also feel incredibly fortunate to have a wonderful group of like-minded, adventure-seeking friends in Colorado. Tyler proposed to Amanda in Estes Park on October 25th, 2025, after a little over 2.5 years of dating. He completely surprised her with an amazing weekend getaway, a beautiful proposal, a surprise engagement photoshoot, and a wonderful surprise engagement party. Now we are so excited to be able to celebrate with you all at our upcoming wedding in Boulder, CO!