Some love stories start with a swipe... Ours actually began a little earlier in Japan. In September 2024, Mirah visited Meiji Jingu temple in Tokyo, surrounded by towering trees and the hush of the shrine, she was present. There she wrote a quiet prayer asking for a good, kind, loving partner; someone whose heart felt like home. She didn't know it then, but the universe (and maybe even the temple spirits) were already busy. A few weeks later upon her return to California, Hinge decided to deliver its finest offering: Sean. He had the kind smile, the easy charm, and the kind of profile that made Mirah look twice. Sean, meanwhile, saw her profile and immediately thought, I'm absolutely shooting my shot. And Voilà! Our first date was hot pot, a bold choice, considering it involves sharing boiling soup. But somehow it was perfect. We talked for hours, laughed nonstop, and bonded over the beautiful chaos of dating and our equal love for our grandmothers who we honestly think met in heaven and somehow made it so we'd both meet IRL. Naturally, we finished the night with ice cream at Salt and Straw, because even love at first date needs dessert. From then on, our story unfolded effortlessly. Long conversations, shared meals, adventures big and small, and our utmost favorite routine: wandering the neighborhood together on dog walks. And it was during one of those ordinary yet magical walks that Sean stopped, looked at Mirah with that warm steady gaze, and asked the question that made it all official: "Will you be my girlfriend?" And she said yes. obviously. ^_^ A few months later, we found ourselves back in Japan, now standing together at the same Meiji Jingu temple. This time, Mirah wasn't praying for love, she was saying thank you. Because somehow, across continents, algorithms, and chaos, this boy from New Jersey found this girl from Sacramento. From a prayer to a swipe, Japan to New York, dog walks to wedding planning, our love story has been magic from the start. And we can't wait for everything that comes next!