It began with a match on Hinge—Andrew had already swiped, and when Melanie finally did too, something about it just felt easy. She made the first move (naturally), and before long, the conversation was flowing effortlessly. They joked, they bantered, and somehow managed to dive into nearly every topic imaginable. At one point, Melanie casually admitted she had never seen a single Star Wars movie—a bold confession, considering Andrew’s deep love for the galaxy far, far away. Thankfully, he didn’t unmatch on the spot. Instead, he decided to raise the stakes—with what he considered peak flirting: sending Melanie a copy of his nationally awarded research paper on recidivism in Delaware. Rather than running for the hills, Melanie sent back a YouTube video on human evolution to prep for their upcoming date. From the very beginning, it was clear—they shared the same curiosity, the same humor, and maybe, just maybe, something worth holding onto.

Their first date was at the Greene Turtle in Dover, Delaware. The night before, Melanie had sent Andrew a YouTube video about human evolution—just to make sure there’d be no awkward silences. (Spoiler: there weren’t.) Conversation came easily, the laughter never stopped, and any first-date nerves faded fast. Melanie’s first impression of Andrew? Great hair, a kind smile, and the fact that he stood up and pushed in her chair when she sat down—a gentleman through and through. Andrew’s first impression of Melanie was watching her walk through the door looking golden, beautiful, and glowing with the brightest smile he’d ever seen. After dinner, they took a walk through downtown Dover. Andrew led Melanie—naturally—to the Police Memorial, where they shared their first kiss (very on brand for him, and somehow, still perfect). Back at the car, he made sure to open all the doors for her, and as the night ended, Melanie knew: this was going to be the last first date she’d ever have. They saw each other again the very next day for ice cream. And from that moment on, they were pretty much inseparable. On their first date, they both admitted they wanted kids soon. Less than a year later, Melanie was pregnant. Now, they share a beautiful life with their daughter, Penny, their snuggly pup Greta, and a cozy Magnolia home full of love, chaos, and joy. What began with a swipe and a kiss by the Police Memorial has turned into forever—and they can’t wait to make it official.

On Melanie’s first Mother’s Day, during their annual visit to Longwood Gardens with the amazing women in their lives, she couldn’t help but joke—loudly and often—about what a perfect place it would be for a proposal. (Cue side-eye at Andrew.) Little did she know… he had the same exact thought. Later that day, Andrew led her to a quiet, secluded spot surrounded by tall hedges. There, in the middle of the gardens and the moment, he dropped to one knee and asked her to be his wife. Melanie was completely stunned—and even more so when she saw the beautiful ring he had picked out. It was the kind of moment she’ll never forget—and the easiest “yes” of her life.