Lauren and Jeff met on Bumble! It was a casual meet-up at their favorite (arcade) bar. Lauren was pleased that Jeff was the first non-creepy person she had met off of a dating site. Then Lauren disappeared to Europe for 2 months, leaving Jeff hoping he would meet up with her again. When Lauren returned, she asked Jeff to meet for a drink so she could catch him up on her travels. They played Mario Cart and Lauren dared Jeff to steal a cowboy hat off of one of the mannequins - he did attempt (Lauren loved it, the bartenders did not). They then danced the night away at a gay bar. And now they are getting married.

Jeff and Lauren have been together for nearly 5 years. During this time they’ve adopted two babies (cats) and traveled the world together. They’ve visited Italy, Greece, Portugal, Peru, Alaska, and Hawaii. Other hobbies they enjoy together include frequenting VFW karaoke, kayaking, and playing Mario Cart.

They were on vacation in Alaska, the first big trip since the pandemic. Jeff carried around the ring in his pocket for 10 days. Every time they came to a beautiful spot on a hike or look-out on the drive, Jeff would think “this is the spot I’ll propose” but then he’d get too nervous. SO on the last hike on the last day, after summiting an incredibly difficult and beautiful trail, they had their celebratory beer. They were about to leave when Jeff got down on one knee and asked Lauren if she’d be his forever adventure partner.