“Has anyone told you that you look like Dustin Diamond in your profile picture?”

Unbeknownst to Stephanie and Tyler, these words would eventually become immensely important to each of them. These were, and would always be, the very first words communicated in their obviously hilarious and affectionate relationship.

Stephanie and Tyler’s relationship began on the dating app OkCupid in January of 2015. The couple began messaging each other daily, and they officially met on their first date. Their first date was in Charlotte, NC, and consisted of visiting a science museum, along with having good food and drinks and good conversation. Less than two months into their relationship, they both knew they were in for the long haul.

Although online dating is the literal worst and finding a life partner on a dating app is rare and unique, Stephanie and Tyler ultimately did find someone special and established a loving and lasting relationship as rare and unique as they are. 

Like a clownfish and sea anemone, Stephanie and Tyler's relationship is best described as symbiotic. Their individual personality traits complement the other in many ways, but they have also grown to need and depend on the other, forming a long-lasting, mutually beneficial unit.

For 8 years, Stephanie and Tyler have maintained this strong connection by experiencing new shared interests and sharing new, interesting experiences.

The couple shares a love of geek/pop culture such as Doctor Who and Harry Potter as well as an interest in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre such as... Doctor Who and Harry Potter. Attending comic conventions together is something the couple looks forward to yearly. Stephanie and Tyler count attending GalaxyCon in 2019 among their most enjoyable experiences together. There, they met David Tennant and Catherine Tate, who were lovely.

Stephanie and Tyler also delight in several other leisure activities that have allowed them to experience many enjoyable moments together.

On their first Valentine’s Day together, Tyler made what he calls, “a disastrous attempt at cooking.” Stephanie recalls that the food wasn’t bad, but Tyler argues that it wasn’t great either.

Being from Hendersonville, NC, apples are in Tyler's blood, and a family history of Type-2 diabetes is in Stephanie's. So, trips to various orchards for apple picking and eating apple cider donuts are an all-time favorite date that the couple repeats often.

Breaking out of escape rooms has become somewhat of a tradition on special occasions for the couple that began on Valentine's Day in 2019. Though the first room they attempted on their own, The Temple of Tikal, seemed daunting, their ease of communication and teamwork made them the first two-person group to escape from this particular room. Needless to say, they were hooked.

Sailing on the open sea is the preferred way to get away for Stephanie and Tyler, provided it's a rather large and fully inclusive boat. Although vacationing together has been a relatively rare occurrence, cruising provides enough adventure for Stephanie and enough downtime for Tyler. The salty sea air, the wind blowing in their faces makes cruising one of their favorite vacationing activities.

Stephanie and Tyler were able to experience their first Disney Cruise in 2016 where they made chocolates together in the Bahamas.

As they continue to grow and build their life, Stephanie and Tyler look forward to sharing the next step of their life together with their family and friends. Thank you for being a part of this special celebration!