The date above actually marks the second time Madison and Nate met. The first encounter was months earlier, when they matched on a dating app, only for Madison to promptly unmatch him. Why? In a single conversation, Nate somehow guessed exactly where she worked, with nothing more than a vague clue about it being at a marketing agency. Thinking a line was crossed, Madison leaned a little too heavily on internet safety and hit the unmatch button! But fate (and a well-timed algorithm) clearly had other plans. A few months later, their profiles crossed paths again, and they matched once more, neither of them remembering their brief first chat! This time, the conversation flowed effortlessly. Before long, they exchanged numbers, moved the conversation off the app, and haven’t stopped talking since! They bonded over late-night Conan O’Brien clips, Madison's love for Costco, and The Last of Us (the first show they watched together!). They quickly realized they shared the same sense of humor, values, and felt so comfortable with each other early on.

Nearly a week after matching, Madison made the first move, suggesting they meet for dinner at Millworks, a restaurant in downtown Harrisburg. From that night on, Millworks has held a special place in their hearts as the spot where their love story began. On the evening of their date, Madison arrived about ten minutes early, determined not to be late and to avoid any parking stress. A few minutes later, a red Volvo pulled into the lot and out stepped Nate. They exchanged a warm hug and headed inside. What Madison didn’t know until nearly a year later was that Nate had actually arrived first, but circled the block to avoid looking too eager! Over dinner, they talked about their jobs, swapped travel stories, and shared memories of their families. Nate still teases Madison for convincing him not to order the chicken sandwich, a dish that has since become his Millworks favorite. It’s a running joke that comes up anytime they talk about food at a restaurant! By the end of the night, neither wanted the evening to end. As soon as they both got home, the conversation picked up again over text. A few days later, they found themselves together again, this time at Chili’s, the spot they both agree is the place where they officially fell in love.

Before their 2025 Key West trip, friends and family kept asking Madison if she thought Nate might propose during it. Each time, she confidently said no, she was sure it would happen later in the year. So when Madison thought she spotted what looked suspiciously like a ring box in Nate’s pocket one evening while they stood on a pier, she brushed it off, convinced she was imagining things, and it was simply his wallet. That night ended with casual drinks with the Bossert family, and nothing more. The next evening, Nate suggested a sunset walk back to the pier. Madison, tired from the day, turned him down without a second thought, and they spent the night lounging around their room instead! By the third night, with plans for a quiet dinner at their resort, Nate knew it was finally time. After dinner, they strolled hand in hand toward the water. As they made their way down the pier, Madison playfully teased, “Wow, this would be a great proposal spot.” Nate grinned and asked, “If you had to guess… how many minutes, hours, days, or months do you think it’ll be?” Madison laughed, still completely unaware. At the center of the pier, they paused to take a photo in a gazebo. As the camera clicked, Nate smiled and asked how it felt knowing that would be her last picture as a Thomas, then dropped to one knee and asked her to marry him. (And yes, Nate has since learned that Madison will, in fact, remain a Thomas until the wedding day!)

It’s hard to believe how much life we’ve already shared together. From falling in love, moving in together, and adopting our sweet Cooper Bean, it often feels like our forever has already begun. Since day one, being together has just made sense. That’s why on October 24, 2026, we couldn’t be more excited to make it official and begin the next chapter as husband and wife. Choosing each other, every day and for the rest of our lives, is the easiest and best decision we’ve ever made. We can’t wait to celebrate this special day surrounded by all of our favorite people, and we hope you’ll be there to share in the joy with us!