Like so many modern love stories, this one began with a swipe. After connecting on a dating app, they decided to meet in person at The Shanty, a cozy coastal dive bar in Cardiff By the Sea. First dates always come with a mix of excitement and nerves, but fate had a funny way of putting them at ease that night in August of 2022. By pure coincidence, her lifelong friend Shannon happened to be seated just one table away from where he was waiting. Of all the places, on all the nights, Shan was there—giving him an unexpected but perfect introduction to someone important to her. It also meant they got a photo from that first date, a snapshot of a moment that felt like the beginning of something special, though they had no idea just how special it would become. Looking back, it feels like the universe gave them a little nudge that night. A sign that this was more than just another first date. It was the start of forever.