Like many modern love stories, ours began with a swipe (though we’re open to any more interesting suggestions for how we met!). We met in late April 2022 through Hinge, and after chatting for a while, we decided to meet in person for coffee and macarons at Cafe Sophia. What was supposed to be a quick coffee date turned into an afternoon of wandering through West Hartford Center, deep in conversation. We talked about everything—our favorite Thanksgiving sides, places we wanted to travel, and Michelle even tried (unsuccessfully) to convince Jon to adopt a kitten. By the end of the day, we had walked miles without even realizing it, and that connection we felt on day one has only grown stronger.
From that day forward, we’ve talked every single day, with Michelle threatening to add a ghost emoji to Jon’s contact in her phone if he didn’t text her first. Whether it’s a quick text in between meetings or long chats while cooking together, we’ve become each other’s constant. It’s those small, everyday moments that have made our relationship so special.
Fast forward to Labor Day Weekend 2024, Jon proposed at Michelle’s grandmother’s house on Cape Cod—her favorite place in the world. After a family cookout dinner, Jon suggested we take a walk along the beach. With the waves crashing in the background and the evening sky starting to set, Jon got down on one knee and asked Michelle to marry him. Being surrounded by her favorite people in her favorite place made starting the next chapter of our lives that much more perfect, and it remains the most unforgettable moment in our love story so far.