Two people. Two cell phones. Sounds like a real 21st century story doesn't it? Well, that is certainly the case for Matt and Amanda. The app with the red and orange flame and little pink logo led these two to become one, for at least as long as this silly little bond might last.

Matt saw the stunning picture of Amanda on "Tinder" and suddenly felt the pulse of his neurons signal for a swift "Swipe Right! Swipe Right!" He had hoped Amanda felt the same. Suddenly, "it's a match!" flew in upon the screen and Matt swiftly told Amanda that he'd like to set her on fire in the Smithhaven Mall, which most people view as a very normal way to open a conversation.

However, Amanda did not seem scared off or intimidated. Rather, she chose to continue speaking to this creature who emerged from the dark hollows of the internet. Minutes became hours and hours became days and days became weeks. A month or two into getting to know one another, Matt and Amanda went from strangers to friends to partners to lovers.

The months rolled forward as the calendar says to do and suddenly as their one year anniversary approached, the world crumbled into a century breaking pandemic. Matt and Amanda found themselves isolated but together...beautiful conditions for a relationship to be tested and to prosper. Throughout this year, Matt and Amanda would move from a future to a forever.

In October, Matt and Amanda moved in together, by January had gotten a dog, and by June they were wanting more than their basement apartment allowed them to have. Serious discussion began about Amanda's completion of her Master's degree and Matt's steadfast growth in his career. They both knew that in another year, they would be somewhere new, tackling the complexities of life, hand in hand.

In May of 2022, they found their lives packed into a white and blue box labeled "PODS." Amanda and Matt entered homeownership and knew that this was no longer just a relationship. In August, with blood on the knee, Matt proposed to Amanda in Richmond, Virginia. A shocking "yes!" was all it took to bring forth the envelopes you may have recently found in your mailboxes.

See you on December 1st, 2024, in Williamsburg.

A&M