Matt was the first date Alex ever went out with from a dating app and she was extremely nervous, it turns out Matt was too. We spent our first date at Alex’s favorite restaurant in Austin - Italic, eating pizza, drinking wine, and telling highly inappropriate first date stories about high school antics, job drama, and crazy nights. Anyone who knows Alex understands that this was perfect first date conversation since there is nothing she hates more than small talk. The date continued after dinner at a bar across the street before Alex had to go meet up with friends for $1 Long Island ice teas at Applebee’s (which were awful by the way). Only Alex’s bridesmaid Christina and her boyfriend (now fiancé) Nick knew that Alex had gone on a date with Matt and stealthily asked how it went - Alex’s response was typical: she smiled, said it went great, and then continued to not shut up about it all night. Matt had gone over to a friend's house after the date as well and had a similar experience of talking their ears off about the girl he’d just met. The first date was all we needed to know we wanted to be together, which is why it’s when we celebrate our anniversary each year.

Matt had planned a proposal at our favorite brewery, Blue Owl, with a party afterward with all of our friends but the COVID-19 shut down got in the way of those plans. Although we were sad to not be able to do what Matt had originally planned (Alex knew it was coming but didn't know the details), quarantine still couldn't stop us from getting engaged. It was Alex's birthday weekend and we had spent that Sunday watching movies together, having a few beers from our favorite places, and ordering take-out. In the afternoon Alex was out on the balcony - it was a gorgeous sunny day - while Matt was talking with her from the doorway. He was being particularly quiet and when there was a pause in the conversation he came out on the balcony, got down on one knee, and asked Alex to marry him. The answer was a resounding yes followed by a lot of happy tears.