Our story begins as most mid-pandemic millennial dating sagas go; swiping on Hinge and skeptically engaging in conversation trying to see if it’s worth messaging back. Summer 2021 was wrapping up when we matched. Fun fact – we believe the only reason we even met on Hinge was because Ben had been in Brigantine visiting his aunt and uncle, which put him within radius and allowed us to match.

After a few weeks of chatting nonstop, we met for our first date in none other than Atlantic City, NJ. Following a fun Mexican dinner at Los Amigos, we relocated to Caesar’s Casino for people watching and drinks – a perfect date if you ask us. 4 hours and lots of laughs later, we went our separate ways but we both had a feeling that this was just the beginning. Our dates down the NJ coast continued into the Fall. Ben impressed Steph with his date planning tactics – with multiple Open Table accounts, he would book upwards of 5-6 reservations and allow Steph to pick what sounded best to her – something he still does. To Steph, a girl who loves options, this sealed the deal.

Steph was beginning nursing school in Philadelphia and luckily Ben’s job was fully remote at the time. This allowed Ben to travel frequently to Philly for dates, and the occasional emergency mouse extermination in the wee hours of the night. We spent many weekends in Steph’s 500 square foot apartment in Center City. It gave us the true Philly experience with access to restaurants and bars at fingers reach. The space was tight, but in that tiny apartment, our relationship and love grew in the most beautiful ways.

We traveled between Monmouth Beach and Sea Isle City as often as time allowed and discovered our shared love of being by the water.

In June 2023, Steph moved into Ben’s townhouse in Freehold, NJ to start their next chapter. The fun we had in Philly continued in the burbs, with a lot more living space! We’ve continued to share our love of trying new restaurants and being close to the ocean.

In February 2024, Ben got down on one knee in Fort Myers, FL and asked Steph to marry him! Saying yes was the easiest decision Steph has ever made. Fast forward to today – we are thrilled to be planning our dream wedding and cannot wait to celebrate with our closest friends and family.

Travel

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