It all started in early 2026 (some people call it fast; we call it efficient) when Ryan downloaded Hinge—his first dating app—and promptly paid $100 because he didn’t know any better. Luckily, his future wife was on there, so we’re calling it a solid investment. Sophia came across Ryan’s profile and thought, “He’s either my type or a very convincing AI-generated scam.” Against her better judgment, she took a gamble and sent him a like. Ryan matched with her the next day, and they ended up talking until 3 a.m. When Ryan finally asked her out in the wee hours of the night, he offered to pick her up at her apartment like a gentleman. Sophia appreciated the gesture but wasn’t quite ready to give her address to a man whose existence she had yet to verify. They settled on a quick, 20-minute FaceTime first. Three-plus hours later, it was safe to say Ryan had passed the “real human” test—and neither wanted to hang up. Within the next 24 hours, they’d both deleted Hinge. Before they’d even gone on their first date, they somehow already knew: this was it. They’ve been inseparable ever since. And while Ryan may have overpaid for his very brief dating-app career, $100 to find his wife? Easily his best purchase of 2026. The wedding, however, was not included.

Early on, Ryan told Sophia he had a five-year-old daughter named Freya. Sophia told him she’d always wanted children and saw having Freya in her life as a blessing. A few short months later, Sophia and Freya finally met. Freya is six now, and the three of them have already squeezed in plenty of adventures, from baking together and visiting pumpkin patches to camping and celebrating her birthday at Disneyland. On the drive to Disneyland, they stopped to tour Swallow Creek Ranch and let Freya make the final call on the wedding venue. She gave it her stamp of approval, so if you love the view on wedding day, you know who to thank. They’ve also taken Goose on stroller rides. Yes, the Frenchie has a baby doll stroller. And yes, there’s photographic evidence in the gallery. They’ve had some hard days, too, and showing up for each other through them has brought them closer as a family. Some of their favorite memories come from big adventures, and others come from nights spent snuggled up on the couch watching movies. Sophia and Ryan love the family they’re building with Freya and can’t wait to see it grow.