How We Met

Our story began in a rather modern way—on a dating app called Bumble. The twist? On Bumble, women have to make the first move, so naturally, Rachel broke the ice with a quirky question: "Would you rather fight a bear or a shark?" Tony, always up for a challenge, chose the bear and shared a story about how he once "fought" a bear… with his car. Intrigued by his humor and storytelling, they decided to meet up for our first date.

Our First Date

Our first date was completely spur-of-the-moment. We met up at Cafe 1650, and right from the start, Tony’s sense of humor shone through. He told a random group of older women outside that we were celebrating our one-year wedding anniversary, and Rachel, of course, played along! The women offered us marriage advice, wishing us a long, happy life together. Rachel remembers texting her best friend throughout the night, telling her how unexpectedly perfect everything felt.

Our Favorite Memories

We've created so many amazing memories together, it’s hard for either of us to choose a single favorite! There was our first trip to Florida together—certainly one of the more memorable trips! We spent countless weekends camping on the lake with Tony’s family. Then there was our first family vacation with Emma—we went to Myrtle Beach to visit Rachel’s aunt and uncle for a week. And we certainly can’t forget our post-Christmas trip to Vegas the day after we got engaged!

The Proposal

The proposal happened during Christmas dinner with Rachel's family. Her dad usually says grace before their holiday meals, but this time, he wanted everyone to share something they were thankful for. They set it up so Tony would go last, and as soon as he started referencing Hamilton, Rachel knew where this was headed. Just before he got down on one knee, Tony said, “I’m not throwing away my shot,” and then pulled out the most beautiful ring. The rest, as they say, is history.

R&A