Unbeknownst to either of us, when we reconnected, we were both taking a year off from dating to focus on our own growth after our last relationships. Funny how life works when you finally stop chasing and start aligning.

We actually first crossed paths back in 2021 at a party. It was a bit of a chaotic day, but when I met him, he was like the calm in the middle of it all. I remember thinking how cute he was—and how centered I felt while talking to him. It was one of those brief but memorable moments that quietly sticks with you.

Fast-forward two years, and fate (or maybe the pickleball gods) brought us together again—this time on the court. After one of our group games, a few of us went out for drinks, and I decided to shoot my shot. I asked if he wanted to go to the Bahamas with me for my 40th birthday… five months from then. Bold, I know. But my intuition told me there was something there, the same sense of calm I’d felt that first day.

When we finally reconnected in the Bahamas, it turned out we were both on the exact same page: “a year off dating.” And yet… we couldn’t stay away from each other. The idea of not being together just stopped making sense. We took our time those first few months, slowly dating, getting to know each other, and letting things unfold naturally. It all just had this rhythm that felt right.

Our whole relationship has carried that same easy cadence—steady, peaceful, and sure. No drama, no chaos, just an underlying sense of this is it.

The only thing we did quickly? Getting married. We became five-day fiancés, engaged on a Tuesday, married that Sunday. It was a whirlwind month full of life’s curveballs, but each one made it clearer that no matter what came our way, we wanted to face it together.

Now we’re buckled up for all that’s ahead, excited to celebrate big with our family and friends in 2027, and even more excited for the rest of our lives.