Like all legendary romances of the 21st century, ours began in the most time-honored way possible—by swiping right. In a world where love can be found between scrolling through memes and ordering takeout, fate (and a well-calibrated algorithm) brought us together. For those still looking, Hinge might just be your best wingman. Now, our love story didn’t start with an instant meet-cute. No, instead, we embarked on an epic month-long text marathon, thanks to Sara battling a cold and Matt gallivanting off to St. Croix. The anticipation built like a season finale cliffhanger until, at long last, the stars aligned for our first date. That fateful night, we met at the J. Rieger Distillery, specifically in the Hey Hey Club downstairs. With expertly crafted cocktails in hand and appetizers to snack on, we talked and laughed, effortlessly sinking into conversation. We took things outside to the back patio, where we stayed until they shut the place down—because when the vibes are good, time just disappears. Now, here’s where the accounts differ. Sara will tell you Matt leaned in for a kiss, and she skillfully dodged it into a hug because she doesn’t kiss on the first date. Matt, on the other hand, insists he was simply testing her hug game—because in a relationship, sometimes a good hug is all you need to survive life’s chaos. To this day, the jury is still out on what really happened. From that first date, we both had a strong inkling that this was something special. Getting to know each other for a month before meeting made things feel easy, natural—like we had already known each other forever. As our relationship blossomed, we took it to the next level: travel. This is when we really learned about each other. Sara, the free spirit, loves to travel light. Matt, the ever-prepared Sherpa, carries everything she might possibly need. And while Sara believes that being on time means arriving at the airport right before boarding, Matt insists that “late” is anything less than an hour and a half early. These lessons in compromise (and patience) have been invaluable. Then came the everyday adventures of sharing a life. Matt quickly discovered the difference between “clean” and “Sara clean” (hint: it involves organization and not just hiding things in a closet). Meanwhile, Sara learned that Matt is an even better version of himself with her in his life—and if he knows what’s good for him, he’ll say the same. With all these lessons and laughs, Matt knew he had to make this forever. He planned to propose in St. Croix over Thanksgiving in 2024, but the universe had other plans. The ring, unfortunately, had a mind of its own and didn’t arrive in time. So instead, in December, he popped the question surrounded by Sara’s sisters, Mallory and Jennifer—exactly the way she would have wanted it. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the location, it’s about the people who make a moment unforgettable. And now, here we are, ready to celebrate with all of you! Mark your calendars for January 3, 2026—we can’t wait to party with the people who mean the most to us. See you all then!