We're getting married!

We matched on the Hinge dating app November 12, 2022. Our first conversation revolved around steak and cooking, naturally. We had our first date November 21, 2022, the day that Matt came back from a fire assignment in Arizona. He was leaving to visit family in Texas the following day, but couldn't wait any longer to meet up with Steph. The first date was at a local all you can eat sushi spot, it felt natural and smooth and we ate a lot of food. We were eager to hang out again when Matt returned from Texas. We've been inseparable since then, spending the holidays together, making memories and enjoying each others company. Steph quickly threw Matt in the mix with her friends and church family, where he was welcomed with open arms (after some sizing up, of course). We have been blessed by the love and support from our friends and family.

As Matt was making his way back home from a fire assignment in Arizona, he was coordinating the proposal plan. He told Steph that they were gonna go to a beach cliff at Trail 4 at the San Onofre Bluffs to enjoy the view and do a little bible study before dinner. He had our friends Arturo and Savanna hiding in the bushes to capture the moments to follow, and Steph accidentally saw them as we got to the look out spot but she pretended like she never did. We went over 1 Corinthians 13, a passage about the importance of love. The focus was on 1 Corinthians 13:7 "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance." Matt prayed over the relationship and was preparing to get down on one knee and ask the big question. Mid-prayer a family had walked up and was trying to take photos where they were sitting. Matt was stalling, hoping that they wouldn't ruin the moment. Luckily, our friends in the bushes got their attention and told them to go away. After praying together and thanking God for the blessings He has given us, and the family who was taking pictures left, Matt got down on one knee and asked Steph to marry him. She said yes and our beautiful friends took the best pictures of the whole thing. Afterwards, Matt took Steph to a speakeasy sushi restaurant in San Clemente where they sat next to each other at the sushi bar, bringing it back all the way to the first date.