Jeremy and Nicole were matched by the online dating app Coffee Meets Bagel. Nicole started the conversation after noting a mutual interest in Firefly and The Decemberists. Jeremy suggested meeting at a restaurant/bar for a post-work drink. Upon arrival, Jeremy took a look around the restaurant, didn't recognize Nicole, and stepped back outside to wait for her. She had changed her look a bit and hadn't updated her profile with a better representative picture. Nicole went outside to see if it was Jeremy and led him back to her table. We chatted for a while when conversation came to a stop and both worried that this was not a good sign. We realized we had been talking for two hours non-stop! We ordered dinner, walked to Volunteer Park and admired the sunset from the top of the historic water tower, and watched an episode of Firefly at Jeremy's apartment. When we made plans for a second date, Nicole suggested an adventurous hiking date and Jeremy selected the trail to Lake Serene. When a friend pointed out that Nicole had agreed to go to a secluded location with someone she didn't really know, she quickly made plans for date #1.5 before the hiking plans. Jeremy met her at a favorite coffee shop and from there we walked to Pike Place Market, visited the Seattle Aquarium, and stumbled upon a bluegrass festival on a pier in Elliott Bay. Nicole later found out that Jeremy had ditched existing plans with friends to meet her and he quickly and extensively researched activities to do after meeting for coffee. One of the performers at the festival is now one of our favorite local musicians. The next day on our hiking date, we discovered based on our shirts, water bottles, and backpacks that our favorite colors are blue and purple. The hike was filled with both great views and great conversation. Jeremy surprised Nicole with a huge feast to enjoy at the lake. We had a great time on the drive home, unabashedly jamming out to Coheed and Cambria. The rest is history...

Nicole's family came to visit us for Christmas and we had planned to take them to the Volunteer Park Conservatory. We had brunch at a nearby cafe, walked through the snowy park, and took some pictures together. We passed by the historic water tower which we visited on our first date to watch the sunset after dinner. Jeremy suggested we go up because you get great views of the city and surrounding Cascade and Olympic mountain chains and it was an incredibly clear and sunny day in Seattle. Nicole's parents stayed back and continued to take pictures in the nearby gardens. Nicole suspected something was happening and whispered to her sister to ask if Jeremy was proposing. She brushed Nicole off and they continued to climb to the top. We stood at one of the windows close to the staircase we entered the tower from and Jeremy began his proposal speech. About halfway through, a young man came up the staircase and stopped for a breather behind Jeremy. He stood there panting loudly, completely unaware of what was happening. Jeremy was clearly irked, so Nicole asked him to pause and lead him a few steps away. He continued with his speech and actually knelt on one knee. Nicole's family then came up for hugs and kisses and we Facetimed Jeremy's parents in Florida to join in the celebration.