Like most love stories of today, Crista and Colin met each other on Hinge in September 2022. After messaging back and forth for a few days Crista was about to pull the plug and move on because Colin just kept chatting and wouldn't ask her out on an actual date. Eventually, Colin did ask her out and the two met for drinks at a small hipster bar in the Francisville area of Philadelphia called Lorraine. The date went well. So well that after a few drinks they decided to walk to another bar, Bar Hyggae, for dinner.

Fast forward 24 hours- Colin knew that in two days he was leaving Philly to spend the following week at the Bloomsburg Fair and that he wouldn't get to see Crista that entire week so he 'broke the rules' and asked for a second date a day after the first. The two enjoyed their second date just two days later at Barcade, a local bar in the city with retro arcade games.

As their relationship progressed, so did their opportunities and experiences. Crista and Colin were so confident in each other that they booked a 6 day trip to Ireland just a few months after their first date.

To continue the theme of moving fast, Colin moved in with Crista in July 2023, about 10 months after meeting. Since then they have gone to countless Phillies games, ate at all the fancy Philly steakhouses and cheesesteak jawns, traveled to Ireland, Dominican Republic, the Pacific Northwest, multiple beaches, and more.

Crista & Colin got engaged on July 11th, 2024 in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware during the Barton's family vacation. Colin planned a romantic pizza dinner on the beach. It had just rained that afternoon and Crista suggested rescheduling the date, but Colin was adamant they were going to eat pizza by the ocean on the (wet) sand. The two went to pick up the pizza and unfortunately it wasn't ready yet. Crista could tell Colin was starting to stress. Crista kept asking what was wrong and Colin decided to walk away with only half of the order (little did Crista know, the photographers were waiting!). Crista and Colin ate their pizza on the beach and watched the sunset. Next thing you know, Colin is on one knee asking Crista to marry him! Colin said the hardest part was trying to get Crista to stand up after eating pizza! The two celebrated all night with the entire Barton family!