It took a dating app to accomplish what 4 years at James Madison University couldn't!

We somehow spent all of college one step away from meeting, only to finally find each other years after graduation. Mel was quickly drawn to Matt's thoughtful nature and quiet sense of humor. Matt loved Mel's enthusiasm for life and her sense of adventure. Before long, Matt also won the affection of someone incredibly beloved in Mel's life: her dog, Stevie! He officially earned the title of "Dad" when he donned a teeny-tiny party hat to celebrate Stevie's 2nd birthday at the dog park.

Most of our favorite memories have come from sharing the things we love. Mel is constantly amused by Matt's love for League of Legends, a game he always complains about but never stops playing. And Matt has become very familiar with Glee, a show Mel always complains about but never stops rewatching. But for all the ways our interests differ, we’ve also discovered plenty of overlap, especially when it comes to music. Mel’s love for hyperpop and Broadway show tunes fits right alongside Matt’s love for '80s pop and glam rock. These days, it’s just as likely for a road trip to start with Madonna and Cher as it is Charli XCX and Shrek the Musical.

Finding that kind of balance has become pretty familiar to us. And over the years, we’ve found a rhythm that feels like home. Mel still talks enough for both of us, while Matt makes everyday life a little lighter. Mel brings the ideas and Matt helps bring them to life. Whether he’s working through a LEGO set or taking on a home project, Matt genuinely enjoys the process of figuring things out. Mel has always been the type to want to skip straight to the end, but Matt has shown her that there's plenty to enjoy in the middle.

And as our relationship grew, we found this to be true for us as well. We learned that the best part isn’t what we’re doing. It’s getting to do it together.