Our love story began with a swipe, and Hope taking a leap by sending the first message on April 2, 2022. After a few days of talking, we both felt a spark and couldn’t wait to meet in person—though Matt had to wait until he returned from a trip to Vegas! On April 12, he took Hope to Lincoln Avenue Brewery for drinks, followed by sushi (her favorite!) at The Slippery Mermaid. From that night on, we knew we’d found something special. Each year, we return to Lincoln Avenue Brewery and The Slippery Mermaid to celebrate our first date. We are grateful that a simple app brought us together. We like to say it was “meant to bee” (thanks, Bumble!).

Since then, we’ve created so many memories together—from family gatherings and travel to Pittsburgh sporting events, concerts, and brewery visits. In June 2023, we moved into our first apartment, and shortly after decided to build a townhome, a space that feels truly ours. We loved watching it go up, often walking or driving by to see the progress. In the meantime, we also welcomed our pup Koda into our lives on December 10.

In May 2024, we closed on our townhome and settled into our new place. Just a few months later, on September 21, 2024, Matt proposed. The day, originally meant to be Koda’s first birthday “pawty,” became an engagement and housewarming party all in one! Matt even bought beer glasses from Lincoln Avenue Brewery and sushi from The Slippery Mermaid, bringing us back to where it all began.

We’re so excited to celebrate this next chapter with you on June 14, 2025—thank you for being part of our journey!