We met the old-fashioned way: on a dating app called "Hinge". I was super excited to find someone whose "go-to karaoke song" was Robyn's "Dancing On My Own", and we spent most of our first date realizing that we had probably crossed paths hundreds of times before actually meeting (including at a Wonder Years show at the tiny Lansdale VFW Hall back in 2006). We went on four dates within our first week of meeting (including a date at Robert's Pool where Justin got WAY too sunburnt and was too embarrassed to hang out for the rest of the day), and I may or may not have told my Matron of Honor that next week that I was probably going to marry Justin at some point. (Bold, right?) Some people say that fate brought them together. But I personally attribute it all to Hinge, a few too many whiskey sours at "The Vous", the two-block distance between our South Philly apartments, and Temple Football.

I had just returned home from Nashville Sunday and was dreading my first day back at work Monday. I was drained, but on the train home that day my phone buzzed. "What is this?," I thought. "Bridget liked you on Hinge" was the alert on my phone. I clicked the notification and saw a familiar face, though I couldn't quite pin where I knew her from. As it turned out, we had been crossing paths at local music shows since 2006 (The Wonder Years/Bangarang Split release at the Lansdale VFW). Also, it turned out she lived only two blocks from me. We'd definitely seen each other on the subway, at ACME, on the street...something! We ended up texting each other all night. I was so excited to find someone who I shared so many mutual interests with. A GIRL WHO LISTENS TO ALL THE SAME MUSIC AS ME....AND LIKES TEMPLE FOOTBALL?!?! Come on man, this can't be real. I went to work that next day and I spent any free time I had plotting how I was going to ask this girl out on a date. I figured I'd wait until later in the week and ask about weekend plans. Luckily, Bridget was at work doing the same thing. After consulting with her best friend Catherine, she texted me and asked if I wanted to get drinks. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! SHE'S ASKING ME OUT?!?! Of course I agreed to meet up in 20 minutes at Black Cat on 12th, because I was so excited and the bar was so close, and even though I stopped having drinks on weeknights, I made an exception! I paced around my house for the next 15 or so minutes trying to pull myself together and when I did, I walked out in the pouring rain. Immediately I saw her exit the bar as I was arriving. Thankfully, she wasn't bailing. There was just a weird comedy show happening and she made the executive decision that we would go to SouthHouse instead. Well, we hit it off and the rest is history!!!