It all started with a swipe…

Jake and Livi matched on a dating app while Livi was living in Kansas City with her maid of honor after college. Their first date was on September 25, 2022, at El Maguey Mexican Restaurant in Platte City, Missouri — a simple dinner that ended up being the start of everything.

From that night on, life together moved quickly — and beautifully. They adopted their beloved (and slightly spoiled) French Bulldog, Baby Stinky, and eventually moved in together in North Kansas City.

In the fall of 2023, they took their first trip as a couple to New York City, where Livi introduced Jake to the magic of travel. That trip sparked a shared love for adventure, and since then, they’ve explored six states and the Dominican Republic together. Along the way, they’ve made it a tradition to try new cuisines everywhere they go — and bring the flavors home to recreate in their own kitchen. Livi takes the lead as head chef, with Jake happily playing the role of her trusty sous-chef (and official taste tester).

In the spring of 2024, Jake and Livi decided to make a big change — leaving Kansas City behind to start a new chapter in Livi’s hometown, both beginning new careers and building a life together.

Then, in the fall of 2025, a dream trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee became a memory that would last forever. On a crisp, colorful day in the Smoky Mountains — right at the scenic overlook of the Foothills Parkway — Jake asked Livi to marry him.

She said yes (with tears, of course), and now they’re so excited to celebrate the next chapter of their story — with all of you together with them!