We Eloped!

In light of recent world events we decided to marry in a private, intimate ceremony in beautiful Santa Barbara, California. It was just us, our parents, the maid of honor and best man. The day was perfect and filled with so much love! We love our friends and family and can’t wait to celebrate with everyone once the world is in a safe place to do so. We are working on a fun celebration scheduled for next summer. We will keep everyone updated!

Matt, no longer the young twenty-something he was when he first met Melissa, had now FINALLY matured enough to decide that he was ready to take the next step in their relationship. Melissa had actually been ready for quite a while, but it took Matt some time to come to his senses. Melissa's Mother and Aunt were in town visiting, and he knew that he had to take advantage of this perfect opportunity to make her the happiest girl on earth. Unbeknownst to Melissa, he bought a ring and, waiting for the perfect opportunity, carried it around in his pocket for two days whilst the 4 of them spent time exploring Santa Barbara and Ventura. Eventually, they found themselves having dinner at a table in the sand at the Shoreline Cafe. Afterwards, Matt suggested they walk down to the beach to take photos, and Melissa thought nothing of it, as Matt loves to be the center of attention of any camera. A few photos later, Matt turned to Melissa, grabbed her hands, and told her that she was his best friend. He could tell in her eyes in that moment that she knew what was coming, but even as he got to one knee and produced a perfectly-crafted ring, she was in shock. She grabbed him as he knelt, and he waited for an excruciatingly long time before asking again for an answer as she had yet to recover or speak as she basked in the moment. A "Yes" finally escaped from her lips, and bystanders on the beach applauded Matt's well-thought-out proposal.

It was swipe at first site. They were both on a dating app, "Bumble," as Millenials these days often are while looking for companionship. Bumble is a dating app where the women have to make the first move, and each of them had chosen to use this app for their own reasons.. Melissa decided that she wanted to better vett her dating options when choosing who to speak with, and Matt was just too lazy to start a conversation himself. After a quick chat discussing their mutual skydiving photos and Matt's desire to visit Hobbiton in New zealand, a date was set on a cool winter's eve. They met on December 20th 2016 at the classy establishment, Uptown Lounge in Santa Barbara, where a single drink was shared over 45 minutes and the date cut short by a very tired Matt. Melissa left dejected, thinking that a date that had gone so well should have lasted longer, but Matt had a trick up his sleeve, for he knew that ending the date early would leave her longing for more. They met up again a few days later for Thai food at her suggestion, and they were finally sent upon their adventure! Their habits and friend groups soon intertwined, and they grew together closer and closer each day. They faced a few obstAcles along the way, including a break-up, but it taught them a lot about themselves, each other, and how they could better communicate and therefore grow closer. Now, they're stronger than ever, and are excited to share their lives with each other.