It all started on a hot summer evening—Saturday, July 22, 2023. Shaina (me) was running 15 minutes late for a date with Chad, thanks to the summertime heat wreaking havoc on her blow-drying schedule (if you know me, you get it.) I wasn’t exactly thrilled about yet another online date, but hey, Bumble matches don’t meet themselves.

As I walked up the stairs to The Brant at Pacific City, there he was: Chad. There was an instant, magnetic zing! The date kicked off with appetizers and drinks at The Brant, but that was just the beginning. We made our way to Ola for margaritas and chips and salsa. The night ended at Old Crow, where we sat on the patio trying to talk over loud country music. At this point I had a major realization: I think I just met my husband. No, seriously, I texted my closest friends to announce it before I even went to bed.

That night was magical. These two “early birds,” who normally clock out at 9:30 PM, somehow stayed out until 2 AM (we're still not sure how). And from that moment on, our love only grew stronger.

Over time, our relationship proved that love isn’t just about big romantic gestures (though Chad does excel at those) but about showing up for each other every single day. We’ve shared incredible highs, navigated some lows, and learned how to communicate in a way that keeps us growing and happy. One of our favorite phrases is "love you more.” It’s not just a cute thing we say—it’s a promise. We love each other more than the bad days, more than the hard times, and more than we ever did before. You may see this theme through out the wedding.

We are ready to start our next chapter: married life, building a family with our little wedding crasher, and loving each other even more.

After all, we both waited a dang long time to find one another... and the wait? Totally worth it.