Our Story began towards the end of summer of 2020. Michael was living in North Providence, working remotely due to the pandemic, and Emma had recently moved back from Ireland into her parents house in Smithfield, the next town over. As the days got shorter and the nights grew colder, the weight of pandemic isolation and cuffing season loomed in front of Michael and Emma, inspiring them to get back on the apps. After matching on Hinge, Michael convinced Emma to go on a date with an offer she couldnt refuse- ice cream and the opportunity to meet his new puppy! On September 15th, 2020 they met up at Cool Licks Creamery and hit it off. The two began hanging out regularly- having movie nights, picnicking at local parks, cooking dinner together, and visiting Vermont to go skiing.


Weekend hangouts turned into weeknight sleepovers and pretty soon, Michael and Emma were effectively living together- Michael even surprised Emma by giving her her own key only 5 months into officially dating. After a year together, Emma’s long commute from RI to Northern Massachusetts required her to move closer to work and the two began their “medium distance” era. Weeknight hangouts were reduced to long FaceTimes, but weekends were always spent together either at Emma’s Waltham apartment, Michael’s house, or up in Vermont to go skiing.


The years flew by with trips together with their friends and family: Colorado, Utah, Canada, and California for yearly ski trips; Peru to hike Machu Picchu; camping in Acadia, and around the country for family and friends’ weddings. In August of 2023, Emma moved back into the North Providence house with Michael- this time with a slightly shorter commute!


Almost two years ago we started a monthly date night tradition called alphabet dates, switching off planning surprise dates based on the letter of the alphabet- A kicked it off with axe-throwing and avocados (guacamole). The most memorable alphabet date is when we got engaged during our trip to Japan in February 2024- R for ring at Rusutsu Mountain!