Luke and Emily met on Hinge. Their first date was May 11, 2023, and they have been smitten ever since. They were engaged in May 2024 on their trip to Seattle.

Early dating

Emily's side: I thought Luke hated me on our first date. He did everything to avoid talking to me. We ate at District Table and Tap, and I made him try a mushroom. He then took me riding around Norfolk on his motorcycle and we ended the night by watching "A Man Called Otto" and "Pitch Perfect". I knew he would be important in my life, but I went home thinking he was not interested in me because I had made him try a mushroom. Our second date was the next day when I brought him ocean water from Sonic. From then on we have been together every day.

Luke's side : I was super nervous on our first date, I thought Emily didn't like me. I kept suggesting other activities so I wouldn't have to take her home just yet. I really wanted to impress her so, I took her on a motorcycle ride and showed her my house. I fell hard and fast for her. Especially after she brought me a drink from sonic after I had complained about a hard day.

Engagement story

Emily's side: I knew before Christmas that he was planning on proposing. It was not until we suddenly started planning a trip to Seattle that I knew it would be on that vacation. He was trying to be subtle, but he failed at that. The proposal was still very magical and everything I could have ever dreamed of. The day of the proposal I thought Luke was going to chicken out. He was very jumpy and was stressed about us both looking nice. In the end, Luke could have proposed with a ring pop in our pj's and I would have still said yes.

Luke's side:

I knew right before Christmas that I wanted to ask Emily to marry me. I especially knew when I asked her dad for her hand. I was more nervous asking her dad than I think I was asking Emily. I wanted to proposal to be special. Emily has a goal of visiting all 50 states and I knew I had to propose in a different state. I wanted Emily to be surrounded by her favorite color, forest green, when I proposed and I wanted her to see the best waterfall in Washington, Snoqualmie Falls. When I saw it I knew it was the place to propose. The day of the proposal I wanted to be special, just the two of us. The day we went it was cold and busy. I was stressed that it wouldn't be the two of us, but the last five minutes we were left alone and I was able to ask the question.