Our story

If you had told either Marc or Elizabeth that they’d meet their person on a dating app, they probably would’ve laughed. Neither of them were big on social media, but after a little encouragement from friends, they both decided to give Hinge a try. Elizabeth had just finished her first semester of grad school and found herself with some free time over winter break. Marc was preparing to join the Army and had a simple but sincere goal — to find his future wife before leaving.

After a few days on the app, both were ready to delete it. Marc decided to give it one more day, and that day, he came across Elizabeth’s profile and swiped right — not thinking much of it. When Elizabeth saw that Marc had liked her profile, she paused. There was something about his warm smile and a photo of him standing proudly next to a Christmas tree that caught her eye. She decided to match.They started chatting through Hinge and instantly found common ground. They shared their faith and love for Jesus, talked about books and big ideas in philosophy and psychology, and bonded over their mutual love of The Office and cats. Elizabeth was struck by Marc’s intellect, his sincerity, and the way his adventurous spirit shone through his words. Marc admired Elizabeth’s humor, kindness, and thoughtful way of seeing the world.

It didn’t take long before Marc asked Elizabeth to meet for coffee. They chose a Panera Bread near Elizabeth’s place and met for the first time in January 2024. Marc arrived early and picked a cozy booth. Elizabeth came straight from a long day of work, and as soon as they sat down, conversation flowed effortlessly. They talked about work, family, faith, goals, marriage, and even kids — and they laughed nonstop, at one point so hard that Marc literally ended up on the floor laughing at one of Elizabeth’s jokes.They talked for hours until a kind Panera employee let them know the café was closing at 10pm. Neither of them wanted the night to end, so they drove to Chick-fil-A (aka “God’s Chicken”) and shared sandwiches in the parking lot. Before they said goodnight, Marc asked for Elizabeth’s number and made plans to see her again soon. That night, Elizabeth texted her friend, “Call me crazy, but I think he’s my husband.”

From that day on, they talked every single day. Marc made a point to include Elizabeth in his community, inviting her to game nights, Bible studies, church services, hockey games, Disneyland trips, and camping weekends in Joshua Tree. Life together was simply better.

Marc approached dating with intention, leading them through a courtship season where they focused on getting to know each other deeply and building a strong foundation. On a special date in February 2024, Marc took Elizabeth on a tour of his hometown. He showed her his favorite places and shared stories about his life. At one of his favorite lookout spots, he shared his heart with her, leaving Elizabeth completely speechless. That evening, they enjoyed a steak dinner at a local restaurant (the same place where they would later celebrate their wedding dinner with family and friends). That night, Marc asked Elizabeth to be his girlfriend, she said yes and they shared their first kiss.

In April 2024, Marc left for Basic Combat Training. Over the next ten weeks, they exchanged more than sixty letters and cherished short weekly phone calls. When Marc graduated BCT with honors, Elizabeth joined his parents in Oklahoma to celebrate his achievement and see him again.

After graduation, Marc began AIT training, and though distance wasn’t easy, they stayed closely connected. Elizabeth continued working and progressing through grad school, while Marc focused on his training. Through it all, they kept showing up for each other.

When Marc came home for winter break in December 2024, they met back at Panera where it all began. The conversation flowed just as easily as it had that first night. They spent the break going on adventures, spending time with family, and soaking up every moment together. That time confirmed that what they had was something special and lasting.

In March 2025, Marc graduated from AIT, came home- this time he was home to marry Elizabeth.