It all started with a Hinge match and a slightly chaotic coffee date. Five minutes before we were supposed to meet, Lauren texted to ask if Mark actually wanted her to come inside—she had just found out her dad had COVID and wasn’t sure if this was still a good idea. Mark (slightly confused and thinking he was about to be stood up) said yes, come in. And thank goodness she did.

From that first conversation, something just felt easy. Lauren was surprised by how comfortable she felt talking to a total stranger. What she didn’t know at the time was that this stranger came with a package deal—two incredible daughters, Emma and Hannah, who would soon become a huge part of her life.

We took things slow. Slowly getting to know each other. Slowly building trust, connection, and eventually, a family. There was nothing particularly traditional about our path—Lauren moved in with Mark and the girls in November, and not long after, we found ourselves booking a wedding venue before we were even officially engaged. But for us, love has never really followed a script.

Along the way, there have been unforgettable memories, like our first international trip together to Scotland. When our rental car broke down in the Highlands, we ended up hitching a ride with a local truck driver who gave us a tour of tiny towns we never would’ve seen otherwise (photo pictured below). It wasn’t what we planned—but it turned out to be exactly what we needed. A lot like this relationship.

We’re very different—Mark is an outgoing EDM-and-Pitbull fan, and Lauren’s more of a quiet Taylor Swift girl—but somehow, it works. We make each other laugh, challenge each other, and support one another through every twist and turn.

Neither of us expected to find the other, especially not through an app. But we did. And we’re so grateful we did.