Lets start with the truth: We met on Hinge.

Our first date was on March 15, 2021, at Jame Enoteca, 5 blocks from Ryan’s house. Ryan was late (no surprise to anyone who knows him) and got lost giving Melissa directions to drop him off (again, not a shock).

We instantly connected over our shared love of family, sports and trying new things. Over dinner, we discovered our complementary strengths: Melissa is unfailing patient and kind, and Ryan knows how to stir the pot.

And we knew immediately that we were right for each other (even if Melissa still went on another date the next night...)

We made it official soon after. And, as our relationship progressed, we learned how deep our connection ran:

It became clear early on that we both like to compete – especially against each other. Sometimes too much.
We found that we both love to travel – almost always together – getting out of our comfort zone to explore and experience the world.
And most importantly, we never stop learning with and from one another.

We first said “I love you” to each other right after we finished swimming with sharks in the Bahamas, 8 months after meeting.

Ryan proposed to Melissa in Rome two years later, on December 10, 2023, a moment filled with romance—and a touch of irony. To Ryan’s everlasting amusement, Melissa was the late one. After the surprise proposal, Melissa spotted someone snapping photos and chased him down to ask for pictures of the special moment. The person she asked (AKA the photographer that Ryan hired) was more than happy to oblige.

Here we are, almost 4 years later, and we couldn’t be happier about how things turned out. From humble beginnings on Hinge to our current lofty heights co-parenting a three-legged cat named Isildur, we remain thankful for every moment that we get to spend together and with the people we love.

Were both so grateful to you, the community we chose and were born into, for your love and support. We cant wait to celebrate our wedding with you on March 15 – 4 years to the day after we met – and we are so thankful to you for being a huge part of our lives for years prior, and for decades to come.