Hayley and Michael’s story began virtually, as many modern relationships do, but not through a dating app, as one might expect. Instead, it was on the first day of the semester in their German Zoom class that Hayley first laid eyes on the handsome Point Loma baseball player. Although thrilled to get a close-up view of Michael's face on screen, she was disappointed that she’d never get the chance to sit next to him in class. As the weeks passed, his German skills didn’t exactly win her over—in fact, she began to question his intelligence when he answered nearly every question with a simple “Nein” (no). But that didn’t stop her from replying to an Instagram story featuring Michael's dog, commenting with the now-famous words, "Your dog is beautiful."

That was all it took to spark a conversation that’s continued to this day. Michael and Hayley chatted for a few weeks before planning their first date. Since Hayley was living on Catalina Island at the time, they decided to meet up in San Clemente for dinner and a sunset. A few days before the date, Michael texted Hayley to say he wouldn’t be able to make it because his truck had been stolen while he was surfing. Hayley instantly thought it was a lame excuse to avoid meeting, but she was humbled when he sent video footage from a nearby house showing a man driving off in his distinct red Ford Ranger.

Fast forward 8 months—no first date yet, but plenty of phone conversations—and they both realized they couldn’t keep putting this off. They needed to meet in person. Thinking it might be a long shot, Hayley suggested Michael take the ferry out to the island and spend the weekend there with her. To her surprise, he agreed to make the boat trip to meet a girl he’d only seen over Zoom, knowing her father was the Sheriff of Catalina.

Hayley watched from her living room window as Michael’s ferry pulled into the harbor and then hurried down to meet him in the golf cart. They spent the day eating, parasailing, singing karaoke, enjoying Wiki Wackers, and even taking a late-night swim in the ocean together. It’s safe to say their long-awaited first date went far better than expected.

Now, four years later, Hayley and Michael are getting married in the very spot where it all began!