At the height of COVID, we found each other the traditional way—on Hinge. After months of messaging and a delayed meeting due to Nicole catching COVID, we finally met in person in December 2020. Our first date went so well that we followed it with another the very next night before heading home for Christmas. Though separated for a few weeks due to the holidays, when we reunited, we became inseparable, spending nearly every evening together. Within a week of becoming "official," we attended a wedding in Fairhope, where Nicole met my extended family and friends. Despite the pressure, Nicole was unfazed and quickly became a fan favorite. Our next adventure was a birthday trip to Nashville with Nicole's friends, it was on this trip that we began to fall in love while sneaking away from the bars to get late-night ice cream on our own. Our love grew deeper still on our first international trip together to the Dominican Republic, navigating a broken shower and language barriers, we learned a lot about how we each face adversity with laughter and teamwork. A few years later and as time drew near for me to move from Memphis to Dallas, we faced the challenge of living apart. However, Nicole, still in school and committed to an internship in Fairhope, and I managed to arrange one last summer in my hometown together, living with my grandmother. That memorable summer not only brought us even closer but also deepened Nicole's bond with my family and friends. After a year of long-distance, we finally moved in together. The initial adjustment period only strengthened our relationship, making it easy to envision a permanent future together. Two years later, after buying a house and embarking on countless adventures, I managed to ask Nicole's mom for her blessing during Thanksgiving—a task made challenging as Nicole seemingly determined to not allow every attempt to get her mom alone. We got engaged on a boat in Positano, Italy in May 2024 and couldn’t be more excited to continue our love story. We hope all of you can join us to celebrate this special moment! -Richard