Jackie and Eric met on a dating app in March 2021 while Eric was living in Newport Beach and Jackie in Hermosa Beach. While neither can remember who made the first move, they both recall chatting about a shared love of snowboarding in Mammoth. In what would be the first of many compromises, the two agreed to meet for taco Tuesday in Long Beach. Jackie was immediately attracted to Eric's quick wit and laid back attitude. Eric was attracted to Jackie's sense of humor and honesty. After 2 months of spending hours driving back and forth on the 405 to see each other, the couple decided to make it official at Jackie's solo marathon in May 2021. A few months later, Eric moved to Hermosa Beach. The couple spent weekdays cooking dinner and walking Annie together and weekends playing beach volleyball, snowboarding, and traveling to other people's weddings. Eric also attempted to teach Jackie how to surf (unsuccessfully but we won't hold that against him). The two continued to grow in love together on the quiet days both working from home and on the big days when they traveled to Germany for Oktoberfest and the Berlin Marathon. In November 2023, Jackie accepted a new job in Phoenix, AZ and the couple began making plans to move the following month. For the first time ever, Eric successfully kept a secret from Jackie and proposed on December 16, 2023 while hiking in Palos Verdes. Their friends planned a going away-turned engagement party and the couple got to say goodbye and celebrate their next chapter with all of their California friends and Eric's family. Through all the life events, Eric and Jackie remain each other's biggest fans and they cannot wait to take the next big step as husband and wife!