It all started one snowy Saturday night when I was scrolling through Hinge. For those unfamiliar with the dating app Hinge, you get ten free likes or comments per day. I came across Max's profile and instantly smiled. I went to send a response to one of Max's prompts and GASP! I had used all my free likes!!! So in the panic of potentially losing his profile forever, I found myself typing in my credit card info and purchasing a month's membership so I could message the boy with the cute eyes who said breakfast dates are better than dinner dates.

Because of Covid and various other reasons, we talked A LOT before we ever met -- texts, calls and Facetimes. So I mean this when I say that I'm pretty sure I knew Max was my guy before we even met. Our brunch date turned into a twelve hour date and, subsequently, one long date for the rest of our lives.

From the get go, Max was clear with me about his priorities, about his desire to make the world better, and about his support of my career. Although Max said "I love you" first, I think I felt it first. He makes me giggle non stop. He pushes me to be strong and authentic. He is patient when I'm overthinking. And, he even watches Below Deck with me! There is a deep cut Beyoncé song I love where she sings about trying to be strong for others and fighting for what's right in the world, but she she struggles because she is lonely and wonders who is going to do that for her. Max is my answer to that question. I have no doubt that this man will fight for me and build me up every day for the rest of time.

That $7.99 Hinge membership was well worth it to find someone that makes me this genuinely happy and safe. I can't wait to walk down the aisle and promise to love this man forever!

The story of how I met Kara is as old and as simple as pancakes and bacon because the reason was literally, pancakes and bacon. That was all it took, a benign prompt on a dating profile which read “Breakfast dates are superior to dinner dates” and $7.99 of Kara’s hard earned money in order to respond.

Those words will go down in my life as the most important words ever written or spoken because they brought Kara to me. A couple of weeks of talking and one 12 hour date later, I knew I found her. She was the one that I would not just spend the rest of my life with but build the most amazing life with.

Falling in love with Kara “Moey” Fitzgerald is the greatest thing I’ve done to date. She is kind, she is loving, and she is thoughtful, those are simple words but bear the weight of significance in my life that is hard to explain. Simply put, Kara makes me a better person. She has brought a sense of family and belonging to my life and I will be forever grateful. She has taught me to care about the mail, both the institution and the concept. She has showed me how to be a better son to my father and a better friend simply by being who she is. She holds me accountable and constantly challenges and pushes me to do better.

I'm excited to marry this girl on May 11, but even more excited to see what we accomplish and build on May 12 and every day after!