Like many couples these days, our story started online. Unlike some couples, Matt had vowed to delete his profile the same day he matched with Ann, and Ann was only on Hinge to repair her self esteem post breakup. Tale as old as time, eh?

Despite that, there were several in depth conversations ahead of meeting for the first time, which took a few weeks. Our first date was at Percy's in Ballard on June 20, 2019. What started as a drink turned into a six hour plus first meeting.

We began dating seriously from the start, and Matt proposed after 3 months. While the sentiment was there, the timing was off. We struggled to find our footing with this new designation and, to be blunt, it didn’t work.

We decided to keep dating. Covid hit and presented a whole new host of challenges. We found a groove in the chaos but again…it didn’t work out. Ann found a new job and moved into her own place. Ann’s soul dog, Marty, died in August of 2021. Matt was there for his passing and was an immense comfort during the darkest moments of grief. In an interesting way this helped us understand each other better.

As our particular story would have it, Ann was also with Matt when he learned that his father, Dwight, died in October 2021. We walked the Oregon coast and dealt with that loss. While we were not dating, we were together for most of that year.

Eventually we formally got back together and, in typical form, decided to buy a house in early 2022. The move was a monumental undertaking. We both got terrifically sick but, with the help of our family, we moved everything to our Bothell home. We worked on our home together, we built our careers…but we ultimately were not growing together. We broke up again in October 2022.

Ann and Matt spent 2023 focusing on career, friendships and life without one another. Matt and Ann briefly rekindled things in 2023 but the progress wasn’t there. To Matt’s credit, he continually checked in…the connection never died thanks to him.

By 2024, we happily got back together. In couple’s therapy and doing the work. While it was not all smooth sailing, this time felt different, more aligned. We knew exactly who we were dating. Matt proposed on June 20, 2024 on a trip to Bruges, Belgium. There were unplanned swans and a meandering walk to find a bar still open for a champagne toast…at 11pm.

We lost our beautiful Sun Bear, Lyra in November 2024. More loss for our little family. Once again grief ties us together, though we grieve in our own ways. In January 2025 we decided 3 really was the magic number for us and adopted Beatrix, a stray teen mom unidentified mutt dog. We are firmly committed to giving the best possible life to our girls.

Nowadays we are living together in that same house in Bothell. Ann makes it pretty and Matt makes it functional. We have a weekly date night. We watch F1 together and never separately. We are still in therapy. We support each other's health and wellbeing goals. We remember to be silly.We remember to say thank you and I love you.

Why is this important? Because our path wasn’t clear or easy, and it’s important to share the highs and lows. We actively chose to be in this relationship and to make this commitment to one another.

We easily could’ve chosen to get married quietly, but this moment deserves a celebration. We are deeply excited to make this next step. We are here making this commitment with our eyes and hearts wide open.

Please know there is not an expectation of gifts. We are adults who have what we need. We share this registry as ideas for those who have asked. Thank you for joining in this celebration, we are so grateful to share this moment with you!