It’s tale as old as time, Boy swipes right on Girl. Girl flakes on boy multiple times before finally, reluctantly agreeing to meet up for a drink. That’s right people, it’s a Hinge success story.

It all started when Shelby accidentally set her dating range too wide on the internet dating app, Hinge. Deep into pandemic lockdown boredom, she swiped. And swiped. And swiped. To no avail. As most ladies will attest, the online dating app scene can be a scary place. Finally, she caught the attention of one Curtis Brown. It was a match. With a cheesy pick up line about breakfast foods the two started their journey. After some talking, Curtis asked Shelby if she would like to meet up for a drink. She agreed, only to completely ghost Curtis day-of. Yikes. A rightfully pissed Curtis unmatched her. Another mind-numbing quarantined night rolled around and Shelby found herself again, swiping away on the app. She came across a familiar face and decided to swipe right again. It was Curtis. He immediately swooped in with a smart-alecky but well deserved remark about her flakiness, but they continued to chat again. This time, she actually gave him her phone number. After a little more back and forth he asked her out again and she agreed, but when the day rolled around she canceled again. Okay, I know what you are thinking, What is this girls problem?! But hear me out (and this is definitely NOT Shelby typing), it was the height of covid! Going on a first date seemed like the most high-risk thing to do. And Shelby was a little anxious to be around a stranger. Let alone maybe kiss one. Curtis is pretty cute, I mean have you seen that smile? But is he worth potentially dying over?? I digress. After some convincing from her mother, she changed her mind and decided to go out with Curtis. They met at a bar called Antiques on High in Columbus. Curtis had driven an hour and a half from Dayton, where he lived, to meet her. A fact Shelby didn’t realize until after she made a sassy comment about him making her pick the location. Curtis explained, he didn’t know any bars in Columbus because he didn’t live there. Another oops on Shelby’s part. But after all the struggle they went through to get there, when they finally sat down for their first date, they connected instantly. They talked for hours and ended up having their second date the very next day.

What followed was many trips back and forth from Columbus to Dayton and from Dayton to Columbus until after about 6 months of dating they decided screw it, let’s just move in together. So Curtis packed all his things and moved to Columbus. A few months later they got a puppy to add to their little family! Shelby already had a dog, Marlowe, but agreed she needed a sibling. Many more adventures ensued.

Finally, Curtis decided it was time to pop the question. He purchased the ring and started to plan. But Shelby wouldn’t be Shelby if she didn’t ruin the plan at least once, right? She ended up contracting Covid and completely messing up all of Curtis’s hard work. Covid, which she then gave to Curtis, which gave him vertigo. So instead of proposing the next possible weekend, Shelby was dragging Curtis to Urgent Care. Third times the charm, as they say. Curtis decided to propose on her birthday, September 30th. After a lovely dinner at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse, he took her back to the location of their first date, Antiques on High. He took her up to the rooftop and got down on one knee at sunset. She said yes!

And that’s Our Story. I really think Hinge should sponsor us already. I mean come on, it’s a pretty great story. In all seriousness, through the highs and lows, the happy and sad, our relationship has persevered and we continue to grow. We are very excited to start the next chapter and celebrate with you all.

Love,

Shelby and Curtis

P.S. - Look how cute our puppies are.