Jacob and I were both new to the online dating scene in Indianapolis, Indiana. We were both just swiping early 2021 -- looking for something real, something that would stick. Little did we know, a simple message would be the beginning of the rest of our lives. It was a cheesy opening line, something about my jean jacket. But hey, it worked! We laughed, we bonded over silly memes, and our connection grew with every conversation.

There were awkward first dates, inside jokes we’d only get, and the kind of conversations that made us think, "I could really see myself with this person." We’d talk about everything — from favorite movies to where we’d want to travel together, to the little things that made us tick. But most importantly, we always made each other smile.

Fast-forward to our first BIG trip together to Italy. Something about being away from home, exploring new places, and being there for each other… we knew we were something special.