Love Stories | Part 2

Meesh Photography

Love Stories | Part 2 : Hinge for the Win

A fun fact about me is that I love Valentine’s day. It may be my second favorite holiday to be honest. It starts off my “birthday week” and it feeds into my cutesy-lovey-dovey side. Plus, right as winter in the midwest starts feeling long, there is a little something fun to look forward to! This next part of the Love Stories series is special because it’s a Hinge success story AND they also are a #lauralangeweddings couple!

Once upon a time, some dating experts and app developers created a thing called Hinge. Thank God they did! 

In 2019, Barbara and Matt matched on Hinge. Barbara asked Matt to grab a drink for happy hour… but it took about a week for them to actually grab that first drink together. A few days later Matt asked Barbara to go on a “real first date”, as the night went on, neither of them wanted it to end. 

They continued on in their relationship and started planning trips together. That is until the pandemic hit in 2020. Matt and Barb decided to quarantine together- aww! They alternated day-dates at each other's apartments. They would order take-out from local restaurants and try new beers from Eagle Park Brewing Co. (like true Wisconsinites -even though Barb is a transplant resident shhh!) . These two are true foodies with great taste, by the way. 

Fun Fact: Eagle Park is where they had their rehearsal dinner- it was so fun to incorporate an important part of their story into their wedding weekend.

Side note from a planner’s  perspective: When planning your own wedding, I highly recommend using landmarks or special events to personalize your wedding weekend. Engagement photos where you first met, rehearsal dinners at your favorite restaurant or a custom cocktail named after your favorite furry friend are all great ways personalize your wedding 

Back to the love story… Written like a hallmark movie, the two enjoyed all their day-dates and time spent together through the next year. That was until they had a big fight the night prior to a friend’s wedding. While no argument is fun, this one was a pivotal moment for the couple. It was then that Matt realized no matter how frustrated he was with Barbara, he didn’t want to do life without her.

If you know Barbara, it’s hard to sneak anything past her… But Matt sure tried!  Matt had 18 holes of golf scheduled with his co-workers one day.  Well, 18 holes turned into 9 and a trip to buy an engagement ring. (If you’re a person planning to propose- take notes!)

Although there were some subtle hints that it may have been coming, Barbara didn’t know the timing. Ten minutes before she needed to leave for work. As they put it “ after some very nice words that neither of us remember” Matt popped the best questions he’d ever asked.  Barbara was in fact late for her shift at the hospital that night, because she said YES!  Not much else mattered in those moments. 

Shortly after that- as in a couple of days later, if I remember correctly- I got an inquiry for full-service planning and a wedding planning buddy. I also said yes haha. There two were married in Milwaukee in the fall of 2021 and live happily ever after. They’re still foodies (with great restaurant recommendations) and still frequent Eagle Park Brewing Co.

 Now for some Q + A!

Q: Do the M + B believe in love at first sight? 

A: No way!

Q: What is one thing you loved about your wedding?

A: We loved that the day was about us, and we planned the day to celebrate with our family and friends from all over the country.

Q: If you could tell your younger self one thing prior to marriage, what would it be?

A: It can be as beautiful as you dreamed of, but it takes a lot of teamwork, respect, and patience. 

**YESSSS! Priceless advice!**

Q: During your time together, what is the most important lesson you have learned?

A: M: feed Barb before she gets hangry, it's the key to survival. B: appreciate the similarities and respect your differences; battles are not made to be won by either party but won together as a team

** A hangry wife is no way to live for either of you; Happy wife, happy life. Spoken like a true foodie!*

Q: What is something you wish people would have told you prior to your wedding day? 

A:  M: You really lose all of your drinks, I don't think I finished a drink all night. B: You truly do not have time to talk to everyone at the wedding, and it took us a long time afterwards to accept that it was 'okay'. 

Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

A:  Neither one of us grew up with the perfect role model marriage. When we went to our pre-marital counseling, we were told that there's no perfect marriage but as long as you're best friends and walk through this path together your marriage will fulfill you and your spouse in ways you've never thought possible.

   ** I love this. I highly recommend pre-marital counseling! That’s the Psychology degree talking, but also helps create a bigger picture for you as a couple to focus on and set goals in your marriage.**

Flashback Friday for these two! ( Barb sent me this picture as “proof we aren’t crazy people”. Love it!!)

Barbara + Matt

Hinge success story, 3.5 years together and 1 year married!