I could never have thought that the very first girl I met off of Hinge in a small sports bar in Georgetown would change my life in so many amazing ways. It’s seriously crazy to think about how easily I could have missed my wife with the swipe of a finger in the wrong direction. I knew that Ashley and I had the same energy from the get-go when she busted out a get-to-know-me card game as an icebreaker in that crowded bar, and it’s been such a wonderful story for us ever since that night.

Our second date was at a sushi restaurant where I ate sashimi for the first time to impress her. Then our third date was a cozy dinner that she cooked for us in her apartment. And then the fourth date was a hike and picnic where she of course rolled her ankle! Every date we’ve had afterwards, every game night, every picnic, every concert, every hour-long drive to visit from Temple to Austin, every text, every lame joke, every moment big or small has culminated into a love that’s been so rewarding and so fulfilling, that it feels like she’s been a cornerstone of my life for much longer than the few years we’ve known each other. Getting to know her family and friends and having them become such close figures in my own life has also been so wonderful and helped make Texas feel like my home away from home. Sharing so many aspects of my family and our Louisiana culture has been a joy to do in turn. Ashley is a natural at catching and eating crabs!

It’s through all these relationships and experiences that Ashley and I have decided to share the rest of our lives together so that our love may continue to grow, and we want all of you to be part of that special day and celebrate together with us!

I met Rhett on Hinge. His genuine profile and love for cooking and game nights caught my eye. His first message to me was about how he could beat me in Mario Kart, but we quickly connected over our time at Baylor Scott & White in Temple and soon planned a first date in Georgetown. One of his prompts said, “The nerdiest thing about me is that I like to read board game manuals for fun,” so I brought a game called We’re Not Really Strangers to break the ice. Naturally, he read the entire instruction manual. We ended up playing for hours, discovering how much we had in common with each question. It was the best first date I’d ever had!

He planned our second date: sushi and an arcade. Dinner was a little awkward... We spent a solid 20 minutes discussing fish (which I later realized is peak Louisiana boy behavior). The arcade loosened us up, though. I beat him at every game, including Mario Kart, much to his dismay. I definitely ended the night thinking I had friend-zoned myself.

For our third date, I wanted something more relaxed, so I invited him over and made Rachael Ray’s You Won’t Be Single for Long Vodka Pasta. We talked, drank wine, and played the game again. When my cat (who hates everyone) curled up in his lap, I knew I’d have to marry him.

And the rest is history!

The past 2.5 years with Rhett have been nothing short of magical. Every moment with him has been filled with joy- whether we’re hosting game nights, going to concerts, or spending quiet evenings inside cooking, watching TV, or playing video games. He’s my best friend, my greatest support, and the person who makes even the ordinary feel extraordinary. I can’t wait to marry him and spend the rest of our lives together.