It all started with Jefferson and Melissa swiping right for each other on the dating app Hinge. Melissa took a few days to answer Jefferson because she was visiting friends for the weekend and wasn’t on the app. So naturally Jefferson had to wait a few days longer than she did before he responded back.

Once they finally started talking, Jefferson quickly asked Melissa to go on a date to Bartaco because it was “in the middle” (it’s not-it’s 5 minutes for Jefferson and 15 for Melissa, but he’s not good at math so it’s okay ;)

Melissa was so nervous she called her best friend Molly and spoke to her the entire car ride and while she waited in her car for Jefferson to come. Jefferson had said he was running late, and Melissa was also (which makes sense if you know both of them). Jefferson then pushed back not once, but twice while Melissa was parked in the lot. Yes you read that right; he pushed it back another 2 times! Melissa was ready to leave, but Molly convinced her to stay unless he pushed it back another time.

So Melissa waited until he said he had arrived. She talked to Molly almost the entire walk up to Jefferson because she was still so nervous, but wanted to seem cool. He said hello and told her Bartaco was booked for a Christmas party, so they went to Rye House instead. However they were closing soon, so after one drink there the two ended up going to Sam’s, which if you don’t know is a dive bar. Melissa and Jefferson ended up being there for almost 5 hours talking and getting to know each other. They shared their first kiss there and it became a sentimental spot they would go to often.

From that night on Melissa and Jefferson spoke every day and continued to go on dates, seeing each other almost daily. After about 6 weeks Melissa had the dreaded “what are we” talk with Jefferson. He responded by flipping her claddaugh ring. Melissa took this as a sign of commitment, but did not realize it meant they were boyfriend and girlfriend. She didn’t realize it until 3 days later when she met Jefferson’s friends Wellington and Emily and they said they were excited to meet his new girlfriend. Melissa asked him on the car ride home and he replied, “Yeah you’re my girlfriend. I thought you knew when I flipped your ring”.

Jefferson continued his romantic streak when he told Melissa a couple months later he loved her for the first time in the bathroom. Why the bathroom you ask? Melissa is still wondering that herself.

Flash forward almost 4 years later when Jefferson asked Melissa to marry him in her favorite place -Lake George. It was a magical moment (that Melissa does not remember), but thankfully Jefferson hired a photographer to capture it all. It was the most perfect way to ask to marry her down by the lake she has gone to her entire life. They are so happy to take this next step and cannot wait to be husband and wife in October!