Avery and Matt met in July of 2020 when Avery started working at Parkside Taphouse in Chico, California, where Matt had been working since 2018. At first, they didn't talk much, and their interactions mainly consisted on Matt being funny or trying to flirt with Avery - all of which flew right over her head. After many months, they became friends and started hanging out outside of work with their other coworkers and friends. One fateful night at Bella's Sports Pub, Avery and Matt got to exchanging looks and chatting about Pad Thai, and nothing was the same after that. Little did they know, they had been crushing on each other for some time. A little over a quarter into 2021, that mutual attraction was starting to show and put them both in a hard position. Stay strictly friends and coworkers, or risk their friend group and jobs and start dating? They did what any crazy people would do, and started seeing each other secretly. At the risk of their friends and coworkers finding out, they spent about 6 months in disguise (save for a select few confidants knowing) before finally admitting they were in it for the long haul in September 2021. By this point, they thought they were being sneaky - but most everyone already knew. Over the next few months, they met each other's families, went to concerts, weddings, ball games, traveled, celebrated holidays, Matt taught Avery the rules of football, they both got better at golfing, Matt and Pentz (Avery's cat) started loving each other, and the couple graduated from Riley's bar and Chico State. June of 2022, they moved in together in their first home - a 600 sq foot studio in Chico, where they spent the next year post-grad figuring out their careers. In that time, they adopted their second cat Bogey, and were tested as a couple in every way possible in the smallest home imaginable. Early 2023, the itch to move to another state and start somewhere new became apparent for them both - and they had the opportunity to move to Arizona. A few months of planning, apartment hunting, and packing, and they were on their way. July 2023, just 3 years after they met, Avery and Matt packed their cats and lives and made the 16 hour drive to Scottsdale, Arizona. In their new home, they worked, Avery went to grad school, they explored the state, made some trips back home to California, watched the Niners make it to the Super Bowl (it still hurts), and adjusted to desert life. February 2024, Matt landed his dream job - the one he originally interviewed for a year prior, and everything came full circle for them in their new home. May of 2025, Avery graduated from ASU with her masters, and the proposal delusion kicked in hard. With wedding season in full swing, and the promise of "I'll do it after you graduate", anticipation was hanging heavy in the air. Two weddings, a trip to Hawaii, almost 4 years of dating, and a whole lot of Avery asking “when" later, the pair took an impromptu trip to Avery’s dream vacation spot - Grand Teton National Park in Jackson, Wyoming. Their spontaneous mountain weekend turned into an engagement trip after Matt got down on one knee and popped the question on July 26, 2025, just 5 years after they met at that restaurant in Chico. Lots of tears, behind the scenes stories, laughs, and photos later - they called their families and friends to share the news. Now, with 19 months between the engagement and the wedding, they count down the days until they finally share a last name and get to celebrate their love surrounded by those that have loved, supported, and encouraged them from the beginning.