They say timing is everything, but for Matt and Sarah, it was a combination of perfect timing and a shared history 1,600 miles in the making. Although they both grew up on Long Island, attended college in the Northeast, and lived in Boston, it took moving to the heart of Texas for their paths to finally cross. In early 2022, Matt returned from an Army deployment to the Middle East and settled in Georgetown with his friend Alex Kent. A few months later, Sarah arrived in Austin with her three best friends—Abbey, Amanda, and Elena—to begin her journey as a travel respiratory therapist at St. David’s Hospital. Their story officially began on a Saturday in September 2022. Both were out early on 6th Street watching Texas Football, and both were feeling a bit skeptical about their dinner date later that evening. In fact, they both gave their friends the same disclaimer: "I'll probably be back in an hour if it doesn't go well." They met at La Condesa for dinner, but the "quick exit" plan was forgotten the moment they sat down. The conversation flowed so naturally that the date didn't end with dessert. Sarah brought Matt to meet her friends at Lavaca St. Bar, and the night finally wrapped up at Buford’s—but not before Sarah managed to lose her phone. Matt had to wait a few days for Sarah to get a replacement before he could see her again, but once they reconnected, they were inseparable. Since that first night, Matt and Sarah fully embraced the Austin lifestyle. Sarah began working at Dell Children’s Hospital and Matt headed back to school to pursue his MBA at the University of Texas. They spent their free time together taking in all the city has to offer—from ACL and F1 to cheering on the Longhorns and taking long walks along the lake. In 2023, their duo officially became a trio when they adopted their dog, Texas Toast, who immediately became the most important (and beloved) member of their family. In November 2025, Matt planned to propose at Onion Creek, their favorite spot to bring Toast to swim. It was supposed to be a total surprise, but since Matt is notoriously bad at keeping secrets from Sarah, she saw it coming from a mile away. Regardless of the "failed" surprise, it was the perfect moment in their favorite place, and—of course—she said yes. Matt and Sarah chose Austin for their wedding because it’s the place where they built their home and their history. They are so excited to welcome their friends and family to the city that brought two Long Islanders together in the middle of Texas.