Three years ago, we met in July—July 5th, to be exact. I (Sophia) had been having a blast at Flathead Lake for the Fourth of July but woke up the next morning and hopped in my car and drove 10 HOURS to Baker, Montana! Meanwhile, Matt had just flown in to put on a basketball camp in memory of Luke Gonsioroski. Charles and Katina Gonsioroski had asked me to come help out, and we're pretty sure they had some matchmaking in mind! We hung out in Baker for a few days, getting to know each other and having a great time. When I left, I was sad because I felt a connection with Matt but didn’t know if we'd ever meet again. Luckily, Matt still had to pay me for my help at the camp, and he kept the conversation going.

Weeks passed, and I started college while Matt was back home in Chicago. On a whim, Matt invited me to visit him there. Little did he know, I wasn't known to go on dates across town, let alone flying somewhere to meet someone I barely knew. But I took a chance, and we had a blast exploring the city together. The distance between us was tough, but we made it work, visiting each other whenever we could and making some unforgettable memories along the way.

Despite the ups and downs, our love endured. Last year, after I finished college, we finally got to spend quality time together. Istanbul was an amazing place for us to grow our relationship and try new things! We started this year in Samsun, Turkey, which was a whole new adventure—almost no English-speaking! But that's where Matt proposed, in the sweetest way ever!

Now we are in Trento, Italy, planning a wedding in just 4 months! Sorry for the late notice, everyone! We are so excited to spend our lives together and celebrate with all of you!