We're getting married!

"You're pretty cute... I wouldn't be mad if we got married" was Max's opening line on Hinge. Jess had heard enough. After a few more messages back and forth, Jess drove to New Brunswick to meet Max in the middle of a blizzard. She had lied to her parents and told them she HAD to go pick up a vape she could only get there. They cruised around the local spots— Hidden Grounds Coffee, Buccleuch Park, Jess's old apartment's porch, and got to know each other. Max tried really hard to impress Jess, and it worked. After freezing their butts off for about an hour or so, Max walked Jess back to her car— where she suggested a hug would be best given the uncertain state of the pandemic. Max knew that Jess was special, so he worked with his roommates to plan an elaborate Valentine's Day party. Rose petals were placed in front of every bedroom door of their college rental. Jess was elated to be invited but realized she had another party to attend the same night. Panicked that she was blowing it, Jess scoured the internet to find the perfect cake to have delivered to Max's house as an apology. To Max, it was clear she was a keeper. The 3 years that followed were some of the best we could have imagined—frequent karaoke nights, merging friend circles, graduations, adopting a dog, driving cross-country together, and moving to Brooklyn. We started a life together.

Max and Jess went on their first vacation together to Spain. Max had a whole proposal plan concocted and a ring in his pocket... But the night before the big day night they went to Sala Despiece and had the most delicious dinner and (several) glasses of wine together. They slept in that morning and ordered room service. They had such a lovely relaxing morning together that Max couldn't resist popping the question right then and there. That afternoon, they visited the Royal Palace of Madrid where Jess got to play princess, with a ring on her finger, surrounded by the beautiful trappings of royalty.