It was the summer of 2021, and Eddie was just about ready to give up on dating when he came across Tracy’s profile on Hinge. Lost in what felt like a sea of endless swiping, he had nearly decided to delete the app for good. Then he saw her. Her smile, sparkling eyes, and perfectly corny prompts stopped him in his tracks. Determined to stand out, he sent a simple waving hand emoji 👋, and a few days later, while driving to Tahoe, he got the notification that changed everything: “You matched with Tracy!” He opened the app, saw her profile again, and excitedly thought, “Oh, it’s her!” The conversation came easily from the start, and the day before their first date, they decided to talk on the phone. That first call lasted three effortless hours. Their first date was a charcuterie and wine picnic at the rose garden in Sacramento’s Capitol Park. Dinner was followed by a moonlit walk through the park, when neither of them wanted the night to end. What started as a simple match soon grew into something steady, intentional, and genuine. Even with 75 miles between them and opposite schedules, what they shared was always worth choosing. After navigating early challenges and taking time to reflect on what the future might hold, they both realized what they had was too special to let go. They chose each other with intention, deciding to make it work no matter the distance. Since then, their love has continued to grow, filled with lots of laughs, flights around the world, and the joy of building a life together. Now, they are ready to begin their next chapter as a married couple, especially meaningful as the day after their wedding marks five years since the moment they first matched.