I had only been on Hinge for a week when I matched with Josh — my first date, and unknowingly, my last. We spent two weeks talking nonstop before finally meeting in person. For our first date, we chose a Predators game, something completely new for both of us. Somewhere in the middle of the noise and excitement, a small moment quietly hinted at what was to come. Josh asked me to take a photo of him in front of the mascot, and as we stood there, a kind stranger stopped and asked if we wanted a picture together. Not realizing it was only our first date, we exchanged puzzled glances — and before I could even respond, Josh smiled and said yes. Just a week later, Josh traveled to Arizona to visit his sister for his birthday — a trip that would change everything. He returned not only with stories, but with a decision: he was moving to Arizona. Around the same time, the world came to a standstill as a global pandemic shut everything down. Suddenly, our time together felt precious and limited. Instead of pulling away, we leaned in. We let go of expectations and timelines, and through late-night phone calls, long walks in the park, and endless drives, we built something deep and genuine. With everything else paused, the outdoors became our refuge, and every moment together felt intentional. After a few months, Josh asked me to move to Arizona with him, encouraging me to take a leap of faith. It was a turning point — agreeing meant choosing the unknown together. Would the foundation we had built change? Would the simplicity fade? Despite the questions, we chose each other and decided to take the leap. Six months after we met, Josh made the move to Arizona — without me. I wasn’t ready yet; our love was strong, but still new. The distance brought challenges as we went from spending nearly all our free time together to navigating a long-distance relationship. There were highs and lows, but there was also growth. With thousands of miles between us, we relied on late-night calls, and the moments we did get to share became even more meaningful. A year later, I found the courage to take the risk and join Josh in Arizona and the rest is history. Through a global pandemic, a changing dating world, and countless miles apart, we held on to each other. From traveling the country and meeting family, to moving back and forth between Tennessee and Arizona, experiencing so many “firsts,” dreaming, planning, and building a future — here we are, choosing forever, and tying the knot.