Matt and Maddie met in 8th grade at the scholastic book fair. Maddie noticed Matt's Dr. Who t-shirt and asked him who his favorite Dr. Who villain was. A very cool and totally not dorky conversation was had and both Matt and Maddie realized that they were in almost all of the same classes together. They did an awesome rap together in history class, an astounding presentation in science class and laughed over countless stupid memes and jokes at lunch.

One evening in November of 2020, Maddie got a text from Matt asking if she'd like to walk around the Purdue campus for a bit. Maddie agreed and met Matt outside his dorm hall that just so happened to be less than 200 ft from her own. For the next two hours, Maddie and Matt walked and talked about everything. As it got darker and colder, Maddie and Matt sat down on a bench in Discovery Park and stargazed. It was here that a massive shooting star flew over both of their heads and they both made a wish. Maddie checked the time and found that it was about 2am. It was then Matt got an idea. Matt asked Maddie is she wanted to just stay up all night walking around outside and watch the sun come up. Maddie, understanding there was no point in going to sleep now and having too much fun spending time with Matt, agreed and recommended they watch the sun rise on top of Slayter Hill, the tallest point on campus. They made their way up the hill and sat on a green bench underneath a street lamp. Maddie had never stayed up to watch the sunrise before. As they talked and joked and laugh, they hardly noticed the pastel sunrise unfolding until the sun had made the sky a deep, rosy red. Matt walked Maddie back to her dorm and the two parted ways wondering..um...was that a date?

In August of 2024, Matt started planning his proposal (although he knew that Maddie was the one for a long time). He met with her sister, as well as the father of a long-time family friend (who just so happened to be a jeweler) to design the ring and stalked her wedding Pinterest religiously. A few months, blessings, and plans later, Maddie is got ready to go out to dinner on a normal Friday in December (she totally has NO IDEA anything is up). However, they had to make a quick pit stop at a Slayter Hill, in West Lafayette, overlooking Purdue's campus. This is where they had one of their first dates staying up all night looking at the stars and talking on the bench at the top. With totally no one watching, Matt suddenly broke into a cringey speech and gots down on one knee, and asked if he can give cringey speeches like that forever. By some miracle, she said yes! Her sister, Reagan, and close friend, Stephanie, emerge from the bushes with their cameras. They all had a happy cry and went out to dinner with both of their families in a night they'll both never forget.