Natalia and Nick grew up on opposite coasts, with Natalia growing up in Long Island, New York, and Nick in San Jose, California. While on vacation in the Bay Area in September 2018, Natalia's friend left for home a day earlier than expected. Natalia decided to hop on a dating app to see if there were any "handsome, intelligent, and funny guys" (Nick's words) in the area who would show her around the area on her last day. Natalia and Nick matched on the dating app, and the two initially connected based on their shared interest in law. As the conversation progressed, the two agreed to meet the next day. The following day, Nick drove from San Jose to Oakland to pick up Natalia and spend the day with her. When they first approached each other in a coffee shop, Nick went in for a hug, but was met with a firm handshake. Natalia then jumped into Nick's (a stranger at the time - sorry, mom) car, and the two drove around exploring Oakland and the surrounding area. As the day went on, Natalia spoke in great detail about her upbringing, her personal interests, and just about everything else one could possibly say in a single day. Nick listened attentively. Natalia and Nick eventually stopped at Merritt Lake in Oakland and walked around the entire lake. The two discussed what a great spot Merritt Lake was, and appreciated being there together (Merritt Lake would become the couple's "spot" for numerous reasons, including the two living in an apartment off the lake and Nick proposing there!). After spending the entire day with each other, Natalia asked Nick to take her back to where she was staying so she could pack her bags and head to the airport. Nick offered to drive her to the airport (so he could spend more time with her), and Natalia approved the free Uber ride (to this day, Nick believes this is the only reason Natalia asked him to hang out with her all day). After graduating from a handshake to a hug at the airport, Natalia flew back home, and the two were unsure what would come next. The following day, Natalia called Nick, and the two spent hours chatting on the phone. Phone calls quickly turned to video chats, and after 8 months of long distance, the two moved in together in California. Natalia and Nick now reside in Buffalo, New York, where Natalia is attending law school and Nick is working remotely for a California firm.