We grew up only 3.9 miles away from one another and our stars aligned with a little help from Hinge. On a rainy Thursday night, we met for our first date at Porta in Jersey City. Much to my surprise, Matt confidently ordered the fruitiest drink on the menu… complete with a tiny umbrella. After a few less fruity drinks and a lot of laughing, we both had that feeling this might be something special. The rest of Fall was spent strolling along the Hoboken waterfront, getting to know each other, and soaking in those early, can’t stop smiling moments. On October 11, 2021, Matt made it official and the rest is history.

On an unusually perfect 68-degree day in November, Lauren thought she was heading out for a casual pre-drink walk at Natirar with Matt, Greg, Allison, and Kerri. Not a single alarm bell went off—everything felt completely normal, and everyone played their part perfectly. As we wandered the property, Matt realized the moment had arrived. He gently pulled Lauren aside and got down on one knee. It was the happiest surprise of her life, made even sweeter by celebrating the moment surrounded by family.