M&M first met on May 6 2023, at the first annual "Glizzy Booter," a skiing/cookout event that has actually only occurred once. They barely spoke that day, but in a twist of divine coincidence it happened to be Mad's 25th birthday - the day she resolved to "rebrand as a hopeless romantic." The next meeting was about a month later and more substantial - they sat across from one another at Kylee Davidson’s birthday dinner and hit it off. At karaoke following dinner, Matt bought Mad a beer. Some eye witnesses (ie. Mac Conn) thought Matt was flirting with her, other eye witnesses (ie. Kylee) said Matt just likes buying drinks for his friends. Both were correct. Mad claims that she “assumed he was just like that” and did not think much of the interaction. The seed was planted but didn't grow at that point. Their two lives only intersected sporadically. Matt would "pop in" to Mad and her roommates' house when he biked by and they'd bump into each other at game nights and parties. Several months later they found themselves skiing together when they both went to Abasin with a “random crew.” That day Matt decided he was going to ask her out the next time he saw her. That day Mad decided she should probably “write him off” on the grounds of his being “a major flirt.” Shortly after that fateful ski day Mad left for a month to raft the Grand Canyon and their paths didn’t cross for several more months. Over the following summer, at Kylee’s next birthday party, a nudge from Colby (Maid of Honor) gave Matt an in when she told him that Mad Dawg was into fly fishing and that he should see if she wanted to fish sometime. Whether or not it was intended as a hint, Matt took it as one. At a party in August of 2024 Matt approached Mad Dawg with the line “I hear you’re who I should talk to about fly fishing” and she spent the rest of the night talking to him about what size tippet he should use on the south platte and her new favorite spot. When Matt asked her where the spot was she was reluctant to disclose. Sensing her reluctance he quickly changed his question. “You don’t have to tell me but would you show me?” And she agreed! In September they did go fishing, but truth be told Mad did not actually take him to her true secret spot - a fact she would not disclose until months later. Matt was excited and a little bit nervous. Mad wasn't sure what to think. Unsure if it was a date she opted to assume they were “just fishing.” Both recall that day being marked with a sense of familiarity and ease. The next week they biked around Colorado Springs and got Ramen as their second date. About a month later they decided to be boyfriend + girlfriend. The days flew by with more familiarity and ease and dates in town turned into ski days and trips with friends and family. One snowy January day on her way to Breckenridge to meet Matt and his friends, JD & Lexi, Mad hit some ice on Hoosier pass and nearly spun off the mountain. After hearing about her near peril Matt was moved to get something off his chest - and told Mad he loved her. By the end of April they both started to acknowledge the growing suspicion that this was the real deal and began dreaming of a life where they got to grow old together. Throughout the summer Mad kept taking Matt fishing, she rowed him down Browns Caynon & even took him to her real secret spot. One weekend on a camping trip they found a little spot up Old Stage Road. A few months later in October, Matt made plans with Mad to go back up to the little spot off Old Stage, only this time he had done some prep by setting up a trail camera to capture the moment he would propose. Of course Mad was too clever not to expect what was going to happen, but thanks to a big brown trout swimming around her fly, the moment he got down on a knee still came as a surprise. That pretty much gets you up to speed! Matt & Mad are excited to make this thing a covenant with you as a witness!! And hope to celebrate with you soon!!