Long before swiping and matching existed, there was a magical place full of glittery profiles, custom playlists, and top friends: Myspace. That’s where our story began. One day, the bride was scrolling through a mutual friend’s Myspace page (as one did back then) when a certain someone on their friends list caught her eye. Curiosity turned into a profile click, and the groom’s page was everything you’d expect from the era—music, personality, and just enough teenage charm to make her hit “Add Friend.” A few messages turned into daily conversations, and before long, Myspace chats became real-life plans. What started as a simple click on a friend list slowly grew into something neither of us expected at the time. Looking back now, it’s funny to think that a social media platform known for dramatic backgrounds and autoplay songs ended up introducing us to the person we’d spend the rest of our lives with. All thanks to Merrill’s top 8… and a well-timed profile browse.

Our engagement happened on a night we’ll never forget: an Incubus concert—fitting, since they’ve always been my favorite band and we’ve seen them multiple times together. It was one of those nights where everything felt perfectly aligned: good energy, great music, and the feeling that we were exactly where we were meant to be. As the band played through their set, we danced together, shouted lyrics, laughed, and soaked up every moment. The night was winding down, the lights softened, the crowd quieted, and the opening notes of “Aqueous Transmissions” floated through the air. It felt like the whole world slowed down. That song—dreamy, peaceful, and unlike anything else—had always been special to us. It was the soundtrack to late-night talks, road trips, and quiet moments when we felt closest. As the final mandolin notes shimmered through the amphitheater, time seemed to pause. And in that stillness, with the music wrapping around us like a warm tide, I turned to find Tommy on one knee. A question was asked. A very important yes was spoken. The crowd roared in applause for the band, but we like to think a tiny part of it was for us, too.