Alex is a Florida native, but one weekend he flew out to San Francisco with his dad to catch the Dolphins vs. 49ers game and made an unexpected play of his own. On a whim, he opened Hinge and matched with Candace, who has lived across the country from him in California her whole life. He broke the ice on Hinge with a quote from Step Brothers (clearly, he knew humor was the way to her heart), and from that moment on, something just clicked. They didn’t get to meet in person that weekend, but spent the rest of the month texting and FaceTiming nonstop. Then came New Year’s Eve, when Candace bravely and maybe just a tiny bit impulsively, flew across the country to meet Alex face-to-face for the very first time. Their first official date was spent at Epcot and they spent that whole next year flying back and forth to see each other!

Candace and Alex rang in New Year’s Eve with his sister and brother-in-law, planning to admire the Christmas lights in St. Augustine before heading to a hotel party. Despite several subtle hints, Candace didn’t get her nails done and accidentally left her heels at home, so she rocked a green dress, unapologetically chipped nails, and her finest high-top Converse. While taking in the twinkling lights, Alex surprised her with a proposal under a gazebo, leaving her completely stunned. They spent the rest of the night dancing, celebrating, and watching fireworks!