Melissa moved down to North Carolina from New York in October 2015 while Matt moved back down to North Carolina from upstate New York (Saratoga Springs) in November 2015 after 11 years in the Navy. They met online through eHarmony by the summer of 2016. Melissa messaged Matt first, but he didn't respond until about 1 month later, keeping her in suspense as to whether or not a future between them would exist. When he finally did respond, they skipped all of the "ice breaker" questions and moved right on to messages because they knew there was a deeper connection between them. His interest was peaked when she responded to his first message at 3am. Their first date was on July 25, 2016 (a Monday) at Tribecca Tavern in Raleigh. The rest is history...

7:35am, Thursday September 7, 2017: We are waiting at the gate of Magic Kingdom to enter the park (early, of course) for our 8:35am breakfast at Be Our Guest restaurant. My plan was to be able to take pictures in front of the castle before breakfast so that we could have nice pictures before the park gets too crowded. 7:45am: We have entered the Magic Kingdom with our special map that shows us the designated route we have to take to get to breakfast. 7:53am: We have finally found the perfect picture spot. Matt insisted on taking our picture at the last photographer closest to the castle. The photographer took some pictures and then I gave him my phone to take pictures with as well. Once I thought we were finished taking pictures, Matt told the photographer that he wanted one more picture and got down on one knee, pulled out the ring, and proposed. I was absolutely shocked! I was excited, elated, surprised, and so emotional (as was he). Matt had to tell me to take the ring because I was so out of it. I felt like I wasn't in my mind or body. It was the most wonderful experience and time of my life. Disney always has and always will have a special place in my heart. And now it will for both of us.