It all started at our wipes manufacturing plant in 2020, of all places—pretty romantic, right? I was in the middle of a developmental rotation in the Logistics department, and one day, Shay showed up, also working through a rotation. I was in charge of training her, and honestly, I think she might’ve been the one teaching me a thing or two. Slowly but surely, I was falling for her. I mean, who wouldn’t? She’s smart, she’s driven, and she’s the only person I’ve ever met who can make doing work look good.

Not long after she joined the team, I confessed my feelings to her during a quiet moment alone. Lucky for me, Shay felt the same way. We went on our first date to an Italian restaurant called Bordinos, where I probably spent more time trying to impress her with my knowledge of pasta shapes than actually eating.

Since then, we’ve become each other’s favorite travel buddies, exploring places like Las Vegas, Hawaii, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and San Antonio. Ah, San Antonio our first vacation—where Shay got sick and spent most of the trip recovering in bed. Funny enough, that’s one of my favorite memories. Sure, it wasn’t the wild adventure we’d planned, but there’s something about being able to take care of the person you love that made it so meaningful to me. Plus, it was incredibly relaxing—who knew room service could be so romantic?

Shay, of course, has this talent for getting me to do things I’d never attempt on my own. Take hiking the Goat Bluff Trail, for example—killer views, sure, but the heights were not my idea of fun. And then there was the time she convinced me to go snorkeling in Hawaii, even though I’m terrified of open water. I spent the whole time looking out for sea urchins like it was a horror movie, but it made her happy, and that made it worth it.

Now, our dogs? That’s been an adventure in itself. Her 9-year-old Welsh terrier did not hit it off with my Staffordshire terrier and American bully at first. It’s been a long four years of dog diplomacy, but they’ve finally learned to coexist. We like to think of it as a practice run for married life—negotiation skills are key!

One of the things I love most about Shay is how well we complement each other. She’s super organized and keeps me on track—seriously, I didn’t even know checklists were a thing before her—I keep things a little more relaxed.

And then there’s dessert. She loves chocolate, cupcakes, and fruit, none of which I touch. Me? I’m all about cheesecake and tiramisu. I think that just shows we’re meant to be—she gets her treats, and I get mine, no sharing necessary!

As we head into this next adventure, we’re so excited to celebrate with all of you. Thank you for being part of our journey—you’ve made it even more special.

With love,

Matt & Shay

Photos