I met Mari during a crazy point in my life. I had realistically given up on love after a bad heartbreak and wasn't really looking for a relationship until I decided to download Hinge. Yup, online dating apps...scary I know. I remember swiping and swiping until I saw Mari's profile. She looked so cute, and I saw her scrubs so I knew she was a hardworking/kind spirit. But the funny story that made me swipe too was that I saw her dog Mestizo and I love animal lovers and hearted her profile. Funny enough hers was the last one before I said "screw it, I doubt I will hear anything back" Funny thing about fate tho..... The next day I get a message from her. I had been burned so many times I thought it was way to good to be true and initially thought she was a BOT hahaha. yes I told her this, yes she laughed at me. What started was an instant pull towards her. Like I knew her my whole life. Funny enough, the more we talked it seems we might have actually crossed paths at one point. Days and weeks later, after countless messages and Facetime calls falling asleep on, we decided to meet up at Market Tavern here in town. I remember seeing her for the first time and yea... I was in awe. We had "MANmosas" and laughed and talked and after words had our first kiss. We both told our parents about it hahaha. I was so excited. A few weeks later I asked her to be my girlfriend in the cheesiest way. But she said yes. And yes, I said "I love you" first. What followed has been nothing short of miraculous. We have been through the highest of highs and lowest of lows, but we have never waivered. She has been the person I look up to, who I seek comfort and love from and she gives it in spades no questions asked. I truly think I have met her in another life, and I'm happy I found her in this one. Love you my DONUT, I can't wait to spend forever with you, and honestly, forever isn't long enough. <3 Joey

Hola, my turn! In all honesty, I joked around with my mom and my gramma saying if I don’t find love by the time I turn 28, I was going to look for a sugar daddy. My mom and my gramma kept telling me “you are going to find the man of your dreams. You just have to be patient”. But I wasn’t and I joined this dating app called Hinge. On Oct 28th, I swiped right on a handsome boy named Joey. His smile caught my attention and the warmth of his eyes made me smile. I went through his profile and saw he was adventurous, family oriented and a nerd. I thought to myself, he’s perfect. We matched but he never messaged. SO I messaged first, a simple “ Hey Joey, how’s it going?” That message started a journey I wasn't prepared for. You know how the saying goes: “you are going to find your other half”, I did. Our texts, phone calls, facetimes, and dates felt that we knew each other our entire life.After each date I would tell my Gramma Lonnie and we would giggle like school girls. My Gramma Lonnie told me “See Mija, God sent you an amazing man”. I told Joey “we must've know each other in every universe and it was time to find us in this one” He was the first to say “I love you”, I responded “I love you in every universe”. He unfortunately didn't get the reference so I had to teach him how important Marvel is. Similar to how Jurassic Park and Star Wars are to him. He’s truly my best friend, he held my hand during difficult times in my life and cheered me on in my moments of triumph. I am thankful for him every day and I can’t wait to marry him. I love you Joey, I cannot wait to say “ I do” <3 Marisa