Grace and I first met in the Spring of 2019. Like many couples these days, we met through a dating app. Unlike many couples, we started our relationship off with some long distance... I'll take a step back.

Before we had met in person, I had received a new job opportunity at my company to move back to Iowa (where I was before Virigina) and be on the company's Product Management Team. Because I enjoyed texting with Grace, I thought I'd be fully transparent with my situation.

Mike: Hey, before we meet, I thought I'd let you know I'm moving back to Iowa in a few weeks for a new job. So I understand if you don't want to meet up anymore.

Grace: That's awesome! Congrats! Thanks for letting me know, but let's still meet up and you can tell me about your new role!

So we met up at a local brewery, Caboose, where Grace was 12 minutes late while I enjoyed my first IPA. We really hit it off and it followed many dates before I left for Iowa.

I spent 17 months in Iowa, and while we were a part most of the time, we talked on the phone every day, had distance movie nights, went on a Eurotrip, a skiing trip, and endured through the beginning of the Pandemic. After applying to over 100 jobs in Virginia, I found the right position, and was headed back to Reston!

Long story short, we knew we were right for each other long before I proposed and we're so very excited to bring together our friends and family to celebrate our love. We hope to see you there!