How it all began

Elizabeth and Austin first met on Bumble at the end of February 2019. Elizabeth was brand-new to (and a little nervous about!) dating apps, and Austin ended up being both her very first—and ultimately her very last—Bumble date.

They met at a speakeasy in DC, where the conversation flowed instantly. Austin must have sensed the night would go well, because before they had even met, he’d already bought tickets to a fun spot on H Street so they could go dancing after dinner and drinks. He was right—they hit it off so well that they went on a second date that very same weekend, and from that point on, they were inseparable.

In January 2020, they moved into a tiny DC apartment together, unaware of the global pandemic that was about to unfold. After six long months in DC with no end in sight, they made a spontaneous but decisive move to Minnesota. That summer, Austin bought his first house, which unknowingly began what would become their house-hacking and Airbnb chapter.

Elizabeth quickly became a home design aficionado and Austin dove into learning plumbing, electrical work, flooring, and anything else YouTube could teach him to help bring their now 7 different home transformations to life. The projects brought plenty of challenges and late nights, but they also strengthened their relationship and taught them how to build a life—quite literally—side by side. Today, they split their time between Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Pensacola, Florida, creating a rhythm and lifestyle that feels perfectly their own.

On July 25th, 2025, while celebrating Elizabeth’s 30th birthday in New York City, Austin surprised her with a proposal in Central Park. It was the perfect start to the next chapter of their story.

Elizabeth and Austin cannot wait to see where life takes them next and are so excited to celebrate with their favorite people as they begin their forever.