Peak pandemic and I was bored. I had also just been dumped, and I remember telling one of my best friends Marrisa (also a bridesmaid!) that I would never find someone and I was going to stop trying. Two weeks later I matched with someone on Hinge. We decided to meet at Dacha to grab a drink. Needless to say the date did not go well. Nick talked the entire time, barely asked me any questions, watched the football game on the TV over my head, and proceeded to tell me why Wet Dreamz by J Cole is an amazing song. Never thought I’d see him again, but remember I was bored? So he convinced me to go out with him on a second date. And well God is really good. That date was as close to a perfect date as I’ve had. We talked for four hours. I opened up more to him than anyone I’ve met before – about things I usually don’t talk about with people for years. I think it helped that I finally told him to let me talk a little bit on the date, and he apologized for hogging so much of the oxygen (he said he talks too much when he’s nervous…aww). We stayed at Wonderland Ballroom (IYKYK) longer than anyone over the age of 25 should. And because of the pandemic the rest is really history. We spent literally every waking moment together. On HIS birthday he drove back up from Richmond and brought me flowers. I spent Thanksgiving just two months into dating with his parents and grandparents. He told me he loved me in Asheville (after not so slyly asking which one of us would say those words first). A lot of firsts – first time trying TX barbeque during snowpocalypse 2021 (last IYKYK I promise), first time cheering for Carolina sports (he’s a retired Duke fan), first wing & wine Friday, my first time in Richmond, and our first dog together, Athena. And when we got engaged, it was the happiest day (so far!). So maybe it wasn’t love at first sight. Maybe it was love at first shot at Wonderland. (Pro-tip, half-off, wing Wednesdays)

It was peak pandemic and I was on the dating apps because going out and meeting people wasn’t a thing at that time. I matched with Taylor on Hinge and we bonded immediately as I finally met my trash talking match. Quickly learned that arguing with her meant I’m probably going to lose. We decided on a first date at Dacha Beer Garden in Shaw and I thought the date went amazing. I later found out that was one of the worst dates of Taylor’s life… We continued talking and I was able to charm her into going on a second date with me on that next Friday. The second date was dang near perfect. We talked about everything for hours on end and I was able to redeem myself. After that date, Taylor and I were almost inseparable. I would spend most days in DC exploring with the woman of my dreams. We shared a love for travel, and I thought that the best time to tell Taylor I loved her was on our first trip together in Asheville, NC. We were walking a trail and I saw this perfect spot on the way up that I knew we would have to pass on the way back down, so I told her we should stop and drink one of the beers we brought and look at the waterfall. It was one of the best days of my life. Fast forward 3 years later and now I am so lucky to have Taylor, (who almost slipped away because of my love of football and J. Cole) as my future wife. I look back at my past and can’t believe that I am as lucky as I am to be so loved by Taylor and it’s been truly a blessing to have such an amazing woman by my side.