Today, Tomorrow, Always

Lauren and Nick met the old-fashioned way, on Hinge (a dating app). After a few messages back and forth, they realized Labor Day was only days away. With charming enthusiasm and a creative plan already forming, Nick set their first date for that Monday. He picked Lauren up and took her on a tour of each other’s favorite record stores, driving around town with music playing and conversation flowing like they’d known each other much longer than a few days. Later that day, Nick made a bold choice: he drove them to Tempe for lunch at Pedal Haus. Bold, because Lauren is a proud UofA alum who had managed to avoid spending much time in Tempe… until she met Nick, a devoted ASU Sun Devil. Some might call it bravery. Others might call it asserting dominance early. Either way, she agreed to stay. A few days later, Nick continued his courtship with a date featuring the cinematic masterpiece Sky High and breakfast for dinner, because nothing says romance like pancakes at night and a little nostalgic superhero action. Somewhere between record stores, rivalry jokes, and off-key car karaoke with the windows down, something meaningful began to take root. While Nick may have claimed the first-date victory by taking Lauren to Tempe, he redeemed himself a few short months later with a Thanksgiving weekend trip to Tucson, proving that love is about understanding, balance… and occasionally crossing enemy territory. From their first date to countless adventures since, Nick and Lauren learned that love isn’t about proving who went to the superior school, it’s about choosing one another, every single day. And this time, they’re on the same team.

Lauren and Nick love doing life together, whether they’re traveling, at a concert, catching a movie, or just hanging out at home. Music has played a big role in their relationship, they love shopping for vinyl records, and one year they made it to about 20 concerts together, even traveling out of state at times. They’ve made so many memories exploring places like Malibu, San Diego, Costa Rica, Chicago, Seattle, Aruba, Wisconsin, Las Vegas, Rocky Point and the Bahamas. Closer to home, they’ve also enjoyed getaways to Tucson, Sedona, Prescott, and Flagstaff. One of their most special trips was to San Diego in December 2024, where Nick proposed at Coronado Beach. When not at a concert, you can find them spending time with friends and family, catching a movie, having a game night, or hanging out with their cat, Buddy, the best black cat in the whole world. They love Mario Party, Boggle, and just about anything competitive. Nick wins about 90% of the time (Lauren begrudgingly admits it’s pure skill), while she does her best to keep up and have fun along the way. They love their life in Arizona and recently bought their first home together in Mesa, where they’re excited to continue building a home full of love, laughter, and everything this next chapter will bring.