WE'RE MARRIED!

When Chris set his Tinder to search for matches under a mile, he wasn't necessarily expecting to find anyone, let alone the person he'd want to spend the rest of his life with. But with Lizzy at her parent's house just up the road from Chris's apartment, the two began chatting on the app and hit it off. They quickly transitioned to text (with some helpful prodding from Chris) and it wasn't long before their first date was set. Fate would have it that this was to be both of their first (and last) Tinder date's. Big Foot West is a hipster-y bar near West LA with lots of wood. A perfect spot, Chris thought. And even though it was a Sunday, and their date was set for 9PM, neither of the two seemed to mind. Chris arrived first, staking out a spot at the empty bar, and Lizzy noted that she would arrive a few minutes late, wearing a bright orange sweater. Chris was immediately taken aback when she arrived, and Lizzy was just happy that Chris seemed sort of normal. Three hours and two spilled drinks later, the two closed out the bar and headed their separate ways, a great first date in the books. Chris planned on texting Lizzy three days later, as per "dating etiquette," but Lizzy had different plans and texted Chris first that very night, setting up their next date only a few days later. Because Lizzy was heading back to Boston to work on a play at BU for a month. But with how fast and immediately the two hit it off and connected, they wanted to get in as much time together before she went. So three dates in a single week and Lizzy was off to the East Coast. The two would text and talk on the phone during that month, both definitely feeling like this was something special, but of course neither wanting to commit. Until Lizzy got home that is. Because that night Lizzy flew back in was it for both of them. They were officially a couple. A month later they were in love. And six years later they were engaged. Six years? Really Chris?

Yes, six years had passed, but now it was time. At the start of 2020, Lizzy and Chris went to the jeweler together to design the engagement ring, using Lizzy's grandmother's beautiful diamond. You all know what happened next. Lockdowns and layoffs and apocalyptic chaos. But luckily the ring was ready before things got as bad as they would. Except how, in this new world, was Chris going to go to the jewelers without arousing suspicion? Well, it turns out, therapy is a great excuse. Or maybe not so much. Because while Chris said he was going to therapy (but really headed to the jeweler) Lizzy was not having it. She was not okay with Chris going to sit on a couch a bunch of people sat on before him, three feet away from his therapist in this new Covid world. But Chris held fast to his excuse, and while Lizzy was stewing, Chris picked up the ring. Chris kept up the fib, refusing to budge, even telling Lizzy when she asked that the ring was going to be delayed because of all the new work regulations. All the while Chris racked his brain for a way to make asking Lizzy to marry him still fun and exciting. But as the parks and beaches closed, his options were running out. So Chris decided to stop waiting and told Lizzy they were going to have a date night (which immediately aroused Lizzy's own suspicions), and the two dressed up and ordered food. As they prepared it at home, Chris put on a playlist he had curated, and the two danced to Blink-182, Leon Bridges, and a slow-dance version of 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody.' And then came on Lizzy's favorite song of all time: John Williams' Olympic Fanfare from the LA 84 Summer Olympic games. And as the opening crescendo came, he got on one knee and asked for Lizzy to marry him. Lizzy probably blacked out, but she was able to nod and say yes. With the orchestral song continuing on, the two were engaged.