It seemed fate was angling for us to be together, as we both got out of relationships at the same time - and friends of ours on both sides convinced us to download Tinder. (Groom's perspective - She was my first match!)

My opening message was not received well (Groom's perspective - because she didn't read it all the way through), but she persisted in continuing the conversation regularly.

After a few weeks of messaging back and forth, she asked to text instead. I immediately obliged, and we started non-stop texting. Shortly afterward, I asked her on our first date, but wanted to make sure it was somewhere public, so she would feel safe and could bail if we didn't hit it off like we did over text. My brother and friends were also there in the background to make it more social (and to ensure she wasn't crazy).

That was the start of us hanging out almost every day since then - we would make plans to hang out every day - it would quickly feel wrong if we weren't hanging out.

I popped the three little words after two weeks, even I felt it was too soon - but I mustered up the courage and said it anyway - because if I felt it, I should let her know. She didn't respond for a *long* time, but eventually she did say it back. (She probably thought I was crazy)

We continued hanging out very regularly, and soon moved in together after the craziness of the holidays was over.

My first vacation with the family was one month after we moved in together - for her dad's birthday. The family all went to Valencia, California to head to Magic Mountain - we spent our days riding rollercoasters (and sometimes getting stuck on them) - and going out to dinner while I was getting to know the family better. One night during dinner, Randy (Mallory's dad) casually mentioned needing to sell off his daughter for marriage, and I noticed a dime on the table and exclaimed, "Sold!" as I passed the dime over. He quickly mentioned I would be overpaying. The joke had passed and I quietly slipped the dime in my pocket, thinking it a memento of the fun time we had.

Many months later, I had decided to make the relationship a forever one, and did tons of research for the perfect ring for Mallory. With Mallory's mom's help, I told her my plan to propose; though I still needed to get Randy on board with the plan. On Christmas Day, I found my moment - he was alone in the kitchen, and everyone else was busy, so I asked if he would give me his blessing to take his daughter's hand in marriage. He was elated for us, and excited that Mallory found someone that loves in the same way she does.

Chanel (Mallory's mom) and I's plan for a surprise engagement changed many times, but I let her know what would best impress her daughter, and she facilitated getting things in motion in secret.

For her dad's birthday, we planned on going out to dinner at a fancy restaurant (or so Mallory thought); so, dressing up was mandatory. As we pull up to the house, my nerves are fried already, as the moment is quickly approaching, and I didn't want to forget what little I had to say, and I didn't want to embarrass myself. She opened the door, and a flower-and-candle-lined tunnel led us to the backyard, where more candles, flowers, and our soon-to-be wedding band was playing a cultivated playlist of songs Mallory loves. I grabbed her hand, and said, "We joke that I said, 'I love you' after two weeks, but, when you know, you know." I dropped down to one knee with the secret ring and asked her to marry me, and obviously she said yes! The family was all crowded behind a window all waiting for the moment, and came rushing out once the ring was on her finger - the rest is history!