It all started on Hinge, a dating app designed to showcase personalities through curated questions and prompts. Greg was instantly drawn to Shannon’s fun-loving nature, evident in her photos and responses. Despite his loyalty to the New York Giants, he managed to overlook her support for the New England Patriots—thanks to more pressing matters, like her declared love for dirty martinis. That irresistible detail inspired Greg to invite Shannon to the Street Bar at The Newbury Hotel for their first date where he claimed they had the best martini's in the city. Like a lot of his BS, he didn't expect to be called out on it, so when Shannon asked why are they the best, he quickly said, "because of the outfits". Later on in the courtship, Greg discovered Shannon’s pictures had been expertly curated with help from her childhood friend, Abby. He also learned that her "love" for martinis was really just an excuse to drink olive juice in public without judgment. But Greg had a few tricks of his own. Without a handful of older photos showcasing him in better shape—or his clever attempt to avoid the “finance bro” label by calling himself a “portfolio manager”—Shannon might have swiped left. Thankfully, she swiped right. Their first date was fun, only slightly awkward (as first dates often are), but surprisingly easygoing. Still, Greg left convinced she wasn’t interested in seeing him again. To make matters worse, Shannon’s iPhone kept notifying her that someone had placed a tracking device on her—a false alarm caused by Greg’s AirPods sitting innocently in his pocket. All hope seemed lost until Shannon texted Greg to wish him a happy birthday a week later. That simple message rekindled his optimism and made him suspect she might be more interested than she initially let on. A few months and many dates later, the two algorithm-crossed lovers officially became a couple and soon found themselves inseparable. Within the year, they grew tired of frequent commutes and living out of suitcases (Charlotte more than anyone) and decided to move in together. Just a few months later, in August of 2024, Greg asked Shannon to be his fiancée and future wife in the Boston Public Garden, steps away from their first date location. That story is worth hearing—if you haven’t already been subjected to one of Greg’s enthusiastic retellings.