Max and Madeline’s journey together began in the summer of 2022 when they met through a dating app just before Madeline left for Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. On July 10 Max took Madeline to Golfland and asked her to be his girlfriend. To make the moment unforgettable, he wrote the date "7-10" on the golf ball he used and gave it to her later that evening as a keepsake.

Summers were filled with late-night gym sessions, movie dates, and casual meals at Linda's Seabreeze Cafe in Santa Cruz. Despite the three-hour distance after Madeline moved away, they stayed incredibly close. Like clockwork, they would drive to each other on Thursday evenings, making the long drive to be together for the weekend.

On October 20, just a few months after Madeline left, Max gave her a promise ring. At this point, they had become best friends, inseparable in every way. Their bond only grew stronger with each passing weekend.

In March 2023, they took the next step and signed a lease on an apartment together in San Luis Obispo. After moving in and living together for a few months, Max purchased an engagement ring, knowing that he wanted to make their commitment official. On October 28, 2023, during a family garage sale, Max couldn’t wait any longer. While Madeline was at a nail appointment with her best friend, he secretly picked up the ring and, in a perfect moment, proposed. She was so shocked by the surprise that she almost forgot to say "yes." She immediately ran to her best friend, and the family soon realized what had just happened.

From October 2023 to March 2024, they continued to enjoy their time together, with schoolwork, day trips to Pismo Beach, and relaxing weekends. In March 2024, they moved back to the Bay Area, which kicked off their wedding planning journey. By April, they had toured several venues and instantly fell in love with Saratoga Springs. On April 20, they booked the Cathedral Grove site, surrounded by majestic redwood trees, marking the next chapter of their journey toward their big day.

Now, they eagerly await October 18, 2025, when they will finally say, "I do," surrounded by their loved ones and a lifetime of memories. <3