We Can't Wait to Finally Celebrate With You!

Growing up only a few towns apart from one another, plus having mutual acquaintances, our first date was a long time coming! Alas, it was not until the invention of the "dating APP" that we were finally introduced. We met on Coffee Meets Bagel, which one of us is which? Matt sent the first message, asking Laurel about what Whisky she likes (who would have thought Matt would become such a Whisky connoisseur to get a girl like Laurel?), and our courtship began. After some messaging, and a phone call or two, we set our first date at Thom Thom Steakhouse for Drinks. After almost hitting him with her car, we both went on what would become our last "first" date, and set a second later in the week, where we grew closer over some Italian Food, Board Games, and Saving the World. It was then that Matt knew Laurel was the one!

Though Matt knew after the second date how he felt about Laurel, he took his time to tell her. We celebrated our 5 Month Anniversary at Teller's and after that Matt told Laurel he Loved Her, and she asked why he waited so long to tell her!

Matt had planned to Propose to Laurel in March, but then COVID-19 hit and plans changed. However, he could not wait any longer, and enlisted the help of some friends to set up a proposal to remember. With our shared love of games, puzzles, and critical thinking, Matt Created a Scavenger Hunt that took Laurel to a number of significant places in our relationship. The Scavenger Hunt told the story of Fidanzato Marito & his wife Rosa, a Prohibition Era Bootlegger Couple who hid a fortune somewhere on Long Island. Fidanzato is Italian for Fiancé & Marito is Husband. To keep up appearances, the Axelrods & the Sonesens joined us on the scavenger hunt , while the Thaws helped place the clues at the various locations, under the guise of a competing team. And Eric Greenbergs burner phone acted as the "game master" where we had to send pictures from each location with the clue. Now that the behind the scenes was set, the morning of, Coffee and Bagels were delivered to Matts house with the First Clue. Everyone worked to figure out where to go next, which was Tellers. Laurel even said, "we went there!" though not realizing what was going on. From there a lock box was opened, with a clue taking us to the Main Street Board Game Cafe. A bag of games and puzzles were provided with the next clue, taking us around the Corner to Rosa's Pizza (Matt had to help figure this one out)! From there we went to Wantagh Park where a puzzle was left in a Pizza Box showing someone on security footage (thanks Dan Wanderman) hiding something at Thom Thom. After using a Copper Mug to piece together the words in the next clue, we went to pick up a Special Bottle of Jim Beam from Ace's Wine and Spirits. The bottle had a Map of Tanner Park with a number of Red X's. Once we all arrived, we split up, Matt Taking Laurel to the Gazebo where she found a box with a Phone Inside. The phone played a Slide Show of the day, asked her to turn around, and Matt was down on One Knee! Of Course, She said Yes!