How did your love story begin?

Our love story began almost eight years ago with one simple swipe right. We met on Tinder—Matt’s first and only online date, and somewhere around my hundredth after nearly ten years of dating. Safe to say, he had much better luck than I did! We met for what was supposed to be a casual brunch, but eight hours later he was walking me back to my apartment after a day filled with endless conversation, delicious food, and even meeting my dogs. From that day on, we knew there was something special.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

It would be our recent trip to Puerto Vallarta. After five amazing days, our vacation took an unexpected turn when violence broke out following a government operation targeting a cartel member. We leaned on each other, focused on staying safe, kept our families informed, and helped others when we could. Once it was safe, we stayed a little longer to recharge, grateful we had each other. That experience reminded us that together, we can overcome anything.

What would you do with $20,000?

With $20,000, we’d do three things: pay down debt, take our parents on a memorable vacation to thank them for everything they’ve done for us, and give back to a cause that’s deeply personal. Early in our relationship, we lost Matt’s sister, who was an EMT. In her honor, we started a scholarship to help educate the next generation of EMTs. We’d use part of the prize to grow that scholarship so her legacy can continue saving lives for years to come.