This love story begins the way a lot of COVID relationships began - on the dating apps! It was near the end of the summer of 2020 and at the time, it was very hard to meet someone new. Cam had moved from Melrose in the Boston burbs into South Boston in June, and Corey back to the Boston area that same August from the Big Apple. Cam was in no rush to jump into anything serious, but figured, moving into the city would increase his chances of finding someone. Corey had moved back after moving to New York City only a few months before the outbreak in March. If you recall, there was probably no place worse to be than NYC at the time.

Anywho, both were going through a period of change in both of their lives and looking for a fresh start in a fresh place. That place happened to be South Boston. I should mention that Corey had not moved in quite yet. She was waiting for the September 1st cycle to move in with a co-worker, but instead set her dating profile to South Boston, while living in West Roxbury. Some would say only a minor catfish.

It was mid-August, and while lying in bed late that night, Cam received a notification. He had a new message from Hinge. A girl named Coco replied to one of his pictures that he had taken on his new roof top deck, "you like like a lot of fun!" Maybe she knew, or maybe was open to taking the chance that Cam was as fun as his profile looked, but thank the lord that she sent that message. Typically, Cam would do the messaging, but was intrigued that she was ACTUALLY interested in him. In their very first chat, they discussed a wedding, but maybe not in the way that you think. Cam had listed on his profile that he had been an emergency wedding DJ only a few weeks before COVID had happened. That was a key indicator to Corey that Cam was indeed a fun guy.

The next few days were filled with messages back and forth on the app and then soon to phones. Cam lied and said he didn't use the app that much and said if he had Coco's number, he'd be faster to respond. Hoping to capitalize on the momentum, the couple wanted to meet each other. The problem - it was still very much in the middle of COVID. Corey devised a plan to go over to a high school friend's house only a short walk from Cam's apartment. Little did Corey know, that that same friend, Megumi, actually attended Bates College with Cam, and Cam and the friend had many mutual acquaintances. Such a small world. This way, Corey could get the deets on Cam before even meeting, and Cam had prayed that Megumi would give a glowing review.

Well, at the very least there wasn't any objection from Megumi, and Cam enlisted the help of his close friend and now Best Man, Adam, also a Bates grad, to join him. Cam still remembers the first moment well. It was unclear which door was the correct one to use, so he called Corey to come down and get them. He'll never forget the red and white polka dot dress in white sneakers that greeted him on I street. The pictures, which had already piqued his interest, did not do her justice. She was one of the prettiest girls he'd seen. And she wanted to meet with him?

After a few hours together with a small group of friends and some failed attempts at the game of pong (the ball kept falling off of a 3-story deck), Cam asked Corey if she wanted to come to his apartment. Corey agreed, and Cam and Corey walked Columbia Road all the way back to Andrews Square. Once at home, Cam asked Corey if she wanted to check out the apartment's roof deck, which was featured in the picture she had liked on Hinge (smooth move Cam). The weather, which had been humid, turned over to a sprinkle, and Corey had taken off her sneakers. After only a few minutes on the roof deck, her socks were soaked! But the view of all of Boston was well worth it. Before heading home, Cam shared a dry pair with her for her walk back, hoping this would give her another reason to meet up with him.

Believe it or not, it worked! And the rest - starting with a few dinner dates at some of their favorite spots (both are foodies), a wig party - where a lot of their mutual friends met for the first time, a few trips to Maine and the Cape in the following summer, then moving in together last fall, and eventually getting engaged one year later - is history.