It all began in 2019, when life took a delightful turn as Megan moved into the apartment next door to Dylan on Grace Valley Road in Butler, New Jersey. On that first day, while she was busy moving in and maneuvering boxes, Dylan couldn’t help but think, Hot neighbor moving in. I could get used to this! In the coming weeks, they exchanged phone numbers, as neighbors often do. Megan saved Dylan into her contacts as “Dylan Grace Valley”, and Dylan saved Megan into his contacts of course as “Megan Hot Neighbor”—to date, neither have changed each other’s contact names.

At first, they were just friendly acquaintances, sharing stories about their dating mishaps while attempting to navigate the chaotic world of love. They would go out on dates with other people and then come home to share their experiences, laughing about what went wrong—each conversation bringing them a little closer.

One of the early highlights was when Dylan, attempting to be a good neighbor, left a bottle of wine at Megan’s door—along with a playful note that read, “Hope this doesn’t taste like cat pee.” A node to Megan’s cats, Leo & Leila who immediately became Dylan’s biggest fans. This light-hearted gesture set the stage for their friendship to truly take flight. Megan still treasures that note—it’s framed as a comedic reminder of their unconventional beginnings.

That bottle of wine sparked a pivotal moment. Megan knocked on Dylan’s door, inviting him over to share the wine and kick off an evening filled with laughter and great conversation. Over time, their friendship deepened, and as they spent more evenings together, something more began to blossom.

Something that may surprise many people about Dylan, is his incredibly romantic side. On one particular evening after a long day at work, Megan came home to find a note on her front door—just the beginning of a handwritten scavenger hunt that Dylan had cleverly set up around her apartment. One note led her to the fridge, where she found a poured glass of her favorite wine. But the best surprise awaited her when she walked into her bedroom and opened the walk-in closet. There on the floor, in a onesie, was Dylan, holding a bottle of wine and beaming. Welcome home! he said, the room lit up with twinkling lights he had strung throughout. It was a moment that defined their relationship—a blend of sweetness and Dylan’s sense of humor that they both cherish.

A turning point in their growing friendship came when Dylan, a bit sheepishly, confessed one night, “I hate the taste of wine”. It was a light-hearted admission that transformed their bond and revealed the lengths he was willing to go to spend more time with her. It wasn’t long after this that they became more than just neighbors.

The beginning of their romantic relationship coincided with the onset of pandemic, which meant they spent an unprecedented amount of time side by side during quarantine. This period solidified their bond, allowing them to realize how well they complemented each other. Just eight months after they began dating in 2019, they bought their first home together in Oak Ridge, New Jersey. While risky since they hadn’t been dating for very long, the saying holds true, “When you know, you know”.

One of their most touching memories came during the closing process when Dylan’s late father was able to visit their new house and witness his son’s achievement. They spent that day fishing in the backyard—a passion of Dylan’s father that they shared together since his childhood. This is a moment they will forever treasure.

As they settled into their home, they found immense joy in entertaining friends, family and all of Dylan’s nieces and nephews— inviting them to enjoy the couple’s many DIY projects that transformed their backyard into their own riverside oasis. Megan’s hosting skills ensure that every party is not just enjoyable but also a visual feast—where the food is both delicious and beautifully presented. She has truly mastered the art of making gatherings special, a skill she honed after seeing her Mom do the same over the years.

Scavenger hunts have continued to be a treasured tradition in their relationship, originating from Dylan’s family. His late mother crafted them for Dylan and his siblings on Christmas morning, leading them to their big gifts from Santa. This creativity blossomed further when it came time for Dylan’s proposal in October of 2022. He created elaborate, romantic, and funny rhyming clues that guided Megan to one of her favorite places—her Nana and Granddad’s dock on their pond. A bottle of expensive champagne awaited them on ice with two crystal glasses—a part of the coming surprise that Megan’s Dad helped plan and curate with Dylan.

Just as the moment became impossibly perfect, a blacked-out Mercedes Sprinter van pulled up. Out popped two photographers, followed by the couple’s family and friends. When Megan turned to Dylan in awe, he was down on one knee, asking her to marry him—a surprise that took her breath away.

As they look forward to their wedding day on October 26, 2025, they will have been together for six wonderful years and engaged for nearly three years. Dylan and Megan are more than just partners; they are each other’s greatest supporters and best friends. They can’t wait to celebrate their journey with their closest family and friends, raising a toast to love, laughter, and the beautiful life they are building together!