We met through the happiest of accidents when Jake was driving home from Pittsburgh one night, and stopped for gas near where I live. He forgot that Bumble was location based and swiped on my profile. Now at that point I had had my fair share of dates that led nowhere. So I was skeptical and surprised when someone an hour and a half away showed up on my app, but I really liked his profile so I figured why not give it a try! Now Jake is always early and I.… am late most of the time. On our first date I did not see him in the restaurant and he had been waiting there for a while already, so we both ended up thinking that we got stood up! Oops! Somehow our date still went well, and we spent that evening laughing and talking. After that date we continued to talk and spend time together, and over all the walks in parks and little adventures we figured out we had so much in common. Fast forward to today, and I am so grateful we both took a chance on that app. That I found someone who not only accepts my love but makes sure I always feel that love in return, I look back at those first few dates and think “if only that girl knew how lucky she’s about to become.”

I had planned a day trip for Serena's birthday. She doesn’t like to drive. So that morning I showed up to her house early so she wouldn’t have to (Good) But showing up very early to her house before she was ready and surprising her stressed her out (Bad). I was able to tell some of her family I was planning on proposing that day so we were all very excited. As we left her house Serena insisted on taking her car since our day trip was going to be even more driving now that I surprised her at her house. But I had hid the ring in my car…. we did not take her car. One thing I will always love is that after being on the road for a little while Serena noticed that she didn’t have her rings she always wears and was disappointed she forgot them. It took everything in me to not brag that I didn’t forget her ring. While we were driving I gave her her birthday gift (not the ring) she thought it was very cute and she loved it so much she cried a little. I felt great. We had stopped at a new place for lunch and then went to Stan Hywet Manor to walk through the gardens. Now Serena loves gardens and plants so she took her sweet time checking out everything. Naturally, this didn’t stress me out at all and I took it completely fine. The gardens were beautiful, and once we got to the English Garden, I found a quiet corner, said some stuff that I’m going to keep between us, and proposed. After putting the ring on her finger, I took it off and put it on the correct hand (look, I had a lot going on) We went through the gardens and took a bunch of fun pictures and enjoyed the experience. When the day was over and I was dropping her off I got told “this is just the perfect day” about 20 times, and she was right.