It's a story for the ages, especially in the age of social media and smartphones. And it's one that has many parts that add to the surreal-yet-real feel of it all. Like a snowstorm in Georgia that kept Kim indoors to try out a 7-day trial of Match. This happening only three days after Lane created his own account on Match, unsure yet willing to give that whole online dating world a shot. While Lane sat at Refuge Coffee enduring the colder-than-usual temps on that snowy Wednesday, Kim was logging on for her first time a few miles away in Decatur. Thanks be to algorithms (and the God behind the data), the two were matched within minutes of her creating an account. And not fully knowing what she was doing, ❤️ Lane's picture.

Receiving the notification soon after, Lane introduced himself and asked how Kim was enjoying the snow. Such began an incessant amount of messaging (typical Lane), asking questions like ideal days, future vacation stops and favorite movies, books and coffee shops. Kim says it felt like forever for Lane to ask her on a date, but within 36 hours of hello, he offered to grab dinner and dessert. With texts about picnics in brick stores fully stocked with stone challis, Lane and Kim quickly found themselves being themselves (goofy and sassy yet also passionate about the world as it is and as it could be). This was no less true when they actually met that following Sunday, soon learning though that their paths had been intersecting since Lane first called ATL home in 2015.

Their shared love of travel, culture, justice, coffee and Jesus would take date #1 to that same week convincing Lane's brother his first online date was a catfishing (Google it), ice skating and hand holding and falling, and attempting acroyoga (shoutout to Nate and Blair). Their first week of dates led to dating officially on February 14 and a first "I love you" on April 18. Five months later, Kim would receive a surprising (yet totally anticipated) drop-off of a dress and card from a friend, retelling their story from a first hello to an "I love you." With Google Maps and written riddles, Kim would go to Refuge Coffee, The Brick Store and Old 4th Ward Park before finding Lane with a ring, a question and her reply: "Yes. Whoa! We're getting married." Photography by Katelyn Ortego (top image) and Nick Gravino (bottom image).