Online. If you know Matt and Sarah (which you probably do if you're here), you know that neither of them are big party people. They would both rather be at home on the couch in PJs on a Friday night than out at Boston's coolest bar. But how do you meet someone who dislikes the bar scene as much as you do when you're both spending your 12th consecutive Friday night in? Thanks to modern technology, online! Sarah and Matt connected in January 2018, and Matt asked Sarah to dinner soon after. Despite Matt ordering meatloaf on their first date (a major no-no in Sarah's book), they had a wonderful time together. Over the next few months, they explored some of Boston's best restaurants, museums, and entertainment.

Matt had a feeling Sarah might be special when she mentioned her love of food, travel, and superheroes on their first date. There were many things that followed that only further confirmed his suspicion. There was the time Sarah returned from a weekend in New York with a humongous bag of one of Matt's favorite candies: peanut butter M&Ms. Or, when Sarah went to Amsterdam for what felt like an eternity (one week) to Matt and they spoke on the phone every evening, never missing a beat. Or, the time they danced around the kitchen and sang to "Hooked on a Feeling" after an evening of Harry Potter puzzling. However, the moment Matt really knew that he loved Sarah was when they were sitting in hours of traffic at the Canada-US border on the way home from Montreal, where they spent Memorial Day Weekend. Her presence alone in that gridlock traffic turned what should have been a mind-numbing experience into one of the most cherished memories of his life.

There were many moments when Sarah suspected that Matt might be “the one.” Sarah’s first suspicions came when Matt sent texts confirming their first date a few hours before they were set to meet, and after the date telling Sarah that he had a great time and asking her to confirm when she made it home. A fellow planner and a gentleman? Was it really possible? Along the way, there were a lot of other little things, and a few big ones. Sarah loved that Matt was open to pretty much any suggestion she made, including ice skating (not Matt’s forte), kayaking, and spending entire days doing puzzles. Sarah also quickly realized that Matt brought a sense of balance to her life. He is patient and calm, an eternal optimist, and a killer cook. Sarah has other strengths. If she had to choose a single moment*, it would be when Matt introduced Sarah to his family. Family is number one to both Sarah and Matt, and it was important for Sarah to see this in person. It also helps that Matt has an awesome family, who welcomed her with open arms and delicious food! * For the record, seeing Matt “lemur dancing” was a close second.

One year and one day after their first date, Matt asked Sarah to marry him. It was the two of them- just the way she wanted. And even though the ring didn't come tied to a puppy, it did come with a laminated coupon promising a puppy for when they have more space. To make it even more special, Matt planned a surprise dinner afterward to celebrate and introduce their parents.