Troy and Maddie met in 2022 at a wedding, which feels fitting now. Maddie was friends with the bride, and Troy grew up with the groom, Taylor and JT Pugliese, who were the first of their friends to get married. As Maddie sat down for the ceremony, she realized she was entering a stage of life where friends were getting married and had an epiphany that moving forward she would only date with intention and someone she saw a future with. Just a few minutes later, Troy asked if the seat next to her was open. They quickly discovered they had a lot in common. Both were from Orange County and both went to school in Texas, Maddie at TCU and Troy at Texas A&M for his master’s program. Two days later, it was Troy’s birthday, and Maddie made the obvious first move by following him on Instagram and sending a happy birthday message. Two weeks later, they went on their first date, and on July 15, 2022, they officially began dating. From the beginning, they talked openly about their values and what they wanted long term, which made choosing to do long distance an easy decision. They knew early on this was something special. Over the next year, they did long distance, making the most of short visits and long drives between TCU and Texas A&M, growing closer with every mile and every visit. They navigated graduation, finding jobs, and living at home for a bit. In January 2025, Maddie and Troy moved in together, and their relationship continued to grow. On September 19, 2025, Troy proposed and created Maddie’s dream engagement, surrounded by their family and closest friends at a “surprise” engagement party. Today, they are living in Dana Point and building a life together. They are so excited for this next chapter and to celebrate their love with the people closest to them.