Our story technically starts long before we met—we actually grew up in the same hometown of Uxbridge, just a few years apart. Carly went to Mount St. Charles, Matt went to Uxbridge High, and somehow, in a small town where everyone knows everyone, our paths never crossed… until a haircut changed everything. Matt had been venting to his longtime friend—and barber—Eddie (who also happens to be Carly’s brother-in-law) about dating disasters and the world of these new dating apps, joking that if Eddie knew a nurse who had her life together and knew how to have fun, he should send her his way. Eddie replied something to the effect of, “It’s too bad Lauren’s sister is dating this (guy). That would be her.” Matt laughed and said, “Thanks? Let, me know when they break up,” and carried on with barbershop discussions about sports or something. A few months later, on a boys’ trip to Nashville, Eddie gave Matt the green light. Carly was single. So Matt did what any romantic would do—crafted a cheesy, pun-filled pickup line about needing a nurse, jumped on Instagram and hit send. For Carly, that DM felt like a new beginning. Eddie had already talked Matt up—said he was into fitness, loved food, and was one of the kindest people he knew. She felt safe, excited, and curious about someone who sounded grounded and fun. We started DMing, moved to texting, and booked a double date at Ciro’s in Woonsocket. On that first night, everything just clicked. Conversations were easy, like we’d known each other in a past life. We bonded over pulled pork nachos and appetizers, but what sealed it? Carly unapologetically scooping a leftover glob of nacho mess barehanded off the plate mid-convo and popping it in her mouth. Matt just stared—then burst out laughing. It was weird, it was wonderful, and it was VERY Carly. From that June 2018 date on, we tackled life side by side. Matt was renovating a very rough two-family in Worcester, and Carly showed up every week with a bag, lived through chaos, and believed in the vision—even when the kitchen was falling apart. Carly saw how deeply Matt cared about everything he put effort into, how hard he worked, and how much talent he had—she had no doubt he’d succeed at anything he set his mind to and she was all in. During COVID, Matt’s roommate and best man Kevin moved out, and while Carly didn’t officially move in, citing “not enough closet space”, we spent nearly all our time together there - making charcuterie boards for dinner, and doing burpees in the backyard with bricks and cinderblocks as kettlebells when the gyms shut down. While Matt likely envisioned staying in that little 2-bedroom apartment and squirreling away every extra penny for years, some hard conversations were had about the lack of closet space and his choices in décor. So, in 2021, we compromised, and Carly sold her beautiful condo and we bought our first home in Northbridge—one town over from where it all began. A year and some more renovations later, we added our rescue pup Harper to the mix. She quickly became the boss of the house – and our hearts. We’re a team. Carly is the more impulsive, energetic, and loud one; Matt is the calm, thoughtful, and steady one. We balance each other out. We’re best friends who push each other to grow and support each other’s dreams. When Matt left his corporate job to go all in on real estate, Carly didn’t blink. And when Carly comes home after 12-hour shifts as a nurse, Matt has dinner ready and the bathroom heater turned on so she can unwind with a warm shower. We’ve built a life filled with love, support, sarcasm, snacks, and a dog who runs the show. We love the families we’ve come from and the one we’ve created. We’re so grateful to everyone who’s been part of our story—and we can’t wait for the next chapter.