We met in October 2013 at Wake Forest University thanks to a mutual friend. We both realized immediately that we would be special to each other (Matt will tell you it was from the first handshake…Caroline will just smile at him and roll her eyes), Matt asked Caroline out for Valentine’s Day 2014 and was so nervous he briefly forgot what words were and how his mouth worked, but he somehow strung together something that made sense, she said yes, and here we are ten years later.

We said I love you for the first time that summer right as the intro music to Star Wars Episode IV kicked in (Caroline couldn’t believe Matt had never seen the original trilogy!) and moved in together in 2018. We got engaged in Portland, Oregon in September 2019 (Caroline swears she blacked out for a second when Matt got down on his knee to propose) and we’re pretty sure no one had an almost five-year engagement on their Matt-and-Caroline-Relationship Bingo Card, but life and pandemics happen and we just have to roll with it. We made it through the pandemic together in a one-bedroom apartment in Winston Salem and managed to grow even closer through that time together.

Since our first date, we have learned just how well we fit together and complement each other. Where Matt can be quite outgoing and boisterous, Caroline brings a quiet confidence. Where Matt can be very quick with decision-making, Caroline is more methodical and wants to make sure the right choice is being made. We both love books and a good show or movie to stream online (K-dramas on Netflix anyone?) and we are able to talk to each other about anything. We have talked about everything from various political and societal issues to what we would do if we won the lottery (that we don’t play). We have learned that what is most important is sharing the same values and being able to communicate with each other and be willing to listen to each other. We have also learned what it means to choose someone and make the effort to be there for them consistently and to not take each other for granted.

We’re so excited to see everyone as we start this next chapter of our lives together! So, whoever is reading this, thank you so much for supporting us and being a part of our story! We love you very much!