It all started on Hinge, where Hailey was swiping through profiles filled with guys holding fishes when she stumbled upon Matthew—a guy with no fish, and more importantly, a promise in his bio to “split guac on the first date.” She was hooked.

After some hilarious chats and a deep debate over pineapple on pizza, they agreed to meet at T-Street in Lakewood, Colorado. Hailey spent a solid hour crafting an outfit that screamed “casual but cute,” while Matthew, in typical guy fashion, threw on the first button-down that didn’t smell like his gym bag.

They met outside, where a truly awkward handshake-high-five combo set the tone for the night. But things picked up quickly. Between nachos, Old Fashions, and Matthew’s dad jokes, Hailey was laughing so hard she nearly choked on her guac. The conversation flowed like the Old Fashions, and before long, Hailey had a thought: “This guy’s great... but can he pass the real test?”

The test in question? Her dog, Wilson. A 90-pound ball of fluff with a questionable attitude towards strangers. So, after dinner, she casually asked, “Want to meet my dog?” Matthew, who knew this was a make-or-break moment, eagerly agreed.

When they arrived at Hailey’s place, Wilson greeted Matthew with a good sniff, a quick side-eye, and then sat on his foot. That was Wilson’s way of saying, “Alright, this one can stay.” Matthew, clearly relieved, gave Wilson some ear scratches and secured his spot in Hailey’s life.

Fast forward one year of adventure—hiking and skiing (where Matthew tried to keep up), Red Rocks concerts, and Wilson snuggles— and Matthew knew it was time for the next big step. In June 2024, he took Hailey to the top of Vail Mountain and proposed, because what better place to pop the question than one of Hailey’s favorite ski resorts?

Hailey, of course, said yes.