Jenna and Matt met the good old fashioned way, on a dating app of course! But their first date was at Bittersweet Farms, a staple restaurant in the area they grew up in. Jenna was very excited for the date because it was peak Covid and it was the first time she had dined in a restaurant since lockdown. After that they kept dating inside their Covid bubble and even met some very important friends and family after moving in together. It was an unconventional beginning during a bittersweet time that allowed them the time and attention to get to know one another.

Matt proposed to Jenna Labor Day weekend, 2023 on the beach at sunset. He wanted to walk down to the beach for their first sunset since they had just moved into the neighborhood that weekend. He thought proposing there would be representational of a new chapter in their relationship. He kept insisting they go quickly since he had a fantasy football draft with the Stratton crew that night. Jenna didn’t suspect a thing, but quickly assumed the draft was a made up story to get her down to the beach. Rest assured, it was not. Immediately after the proposal they walked back to the house where Matt drafted one of his fantasy teams. A story Jenna will tell for the rest of time. Matt really likes sports.

Jenna: The first time Matt and I went to the mountain together, I remember thinking “oh, this will work,” when we got to the bottom of the ski trail. Matt later said he had the same thought about me. Those moments kept happening with more serious experiences and I knew I’d marry him. My personal favorite “this will work,” moment was watching him get teary eyed the first time he ever held our dog Murphy. Matt: I knew Jenna was my person almost immediately. While waiting for her in the parking lot of the Black Goose in Tiverton for our second date, someone opened their car door straight into mine. They knew I saw them, but simply laughed and shrugged their shoulders. As fate would have it Jenna pulled in seconds later. "Okay Matt let this one go", I said to myself. "You really like this girl and you don't want to come across as some psycho". The most incredible part was as soon as I saw her smile and she said hello, everything that preceded that moment was insignificant. Jenna has continued to be the calming presence that I have been looking for my whole life, and has lowered my blood pressure numerous times since. (P.S. There is still a dent on my passenger side door, but it reminds me of her and makes me smile.)