Ashley & Michael
Ashley & Michael
Our Story
A Match Made in Heaven
August 24, 2024
Like many modern love stories, ours started when we matched in an online dating app.
Michael: "The first thing I saw was her big, beautiful smile. It was so bright, genuine, and kind. Then I saw a video of her at the piano, completely in her element, playing a serene melody. I thought she was someone really special, until I heard a voice memo on her profile (which you can hear below). Then I knew she was unlike anyone I had ever met. I’d say I had no idea what was in store for me, but a part of me knew even then that she was the one."
Ashley: "After Michael and I matched, we quickly connected over back-and-forth voice memos to each other. I loved his voice. He seemed so genuine and was just as down as I was to get really intentional with our conversation. One of the first things we found in common was that we had both just finished reading the same book, Secure Love, which is about fostering secure attachments in romantic relationships. Swoon! As we went on to set up our first date, Michael's interest, kindness, and dependability was such a great surprise to me in the online dating world. A part of me worried this connection might be too good to be true. I had no idea how much good was right around the corner."
Hinge -- the app where Ashley and Michael met -- allows users to create voice memos on their profiles so that potential matches can get a sense of their vibe and what they sound like. Ashley had a voice memo that answered the prompt: What's one random fact you love? You can listen to the voice memo that captivated Michael here (make sure to turn on the sound in the lower right corner of the gif).
Or you can read it: A random fact I love -- and a thought I love to think often -- is that I still haven’t heard all of the music that I am going to really love in my lifetime; and I still haven’t met all of the people that I'm going to really love, or who are going to really love me, in my lifetime. And neither have you.
A Year and a Half of Falling in Love
August 2024 - December 2025
Over the next year and a half, we went from a first date to building something real -- dating, becoming exclusive, saying ‘I love you,’ and falling deeper and deeper in love.
Michael: "What really made me realize this relationship was different was how easy and natural everything felt. We’d have fun nights out -- just the two of us or with friends -- and quiet nights in, talking about our lives and our futures. I felt so understood, never judged. I felt supported, like she’d always be there by my side. I’d so often catch myself thinking, ‘Oh… this is what it’s supposed to feel like.’"
Ashley: "The thing that kept surprising me early on was how present and absolutely available Michael was to me. From the very beginning, I could always count on him. The best way I can describe it is that whenever I leaned into him, he leaned right back into me. He never left me hanging. This was such a huge gift to my heart! We fell into such a comfortable rhythm and a shared language between us, which has only continued, and grown even deeper."
Getting engaged
December 25, 2025
On a stormy Christmas morning in Carlsbad, after exchanging gifts just between the two of them, Michael told Ashley he had one more gift waiting for her at the top of the tree, a clever ruse to make sure she was standing. He walked up behind her, tapped her on the shoulder, knelt down, and revealed the ring. He asked her to marry him, and she said yes!
Michael: "A part of me wondered if I needed to go bigger with popping the question. Like if there should have been some sort of elaborate setup or exotic locale. And maybe that would have been fun, but something about a cozy, stormy morning just worked. It perfectly matched how I felt about us and our relationship: warm and cozy."
Ashley: "I was born in December, and Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. There's so much magic and wonder even in the darker months. With Michael being Jewish, he didn't grow up having nearly as much nostalgia and tradition around this particular holiday, which is why it meant so much to me that he really leaned into the traditions with me throughout the month. He would take the long way home so we could see the neighborhood lights, put on my favorite Christmas music in the evenings, watch and quote Elf with me (Bye Buddy! Hope you find your dad!), and he even completely unprompted would read The Polar Express (my favorite Christmas book) to me before bed... multiple times :) So, picking Christmas to propose was such a sweet choice on his part. Getting to be in our couple bubble during our break and slowly call our friends and family to tell them the good news was magic, and the best Christmas present ever."
Celebrating with you!
We're so glad that YOU are a part of our story. You always have been, providing us the love and support and shaping us into the people that we are in ways big and small. Without you this story would never have happened and for that we are truly and sincerely thankful.
Michael: "So many people have been there in my life to make me the person I am today. The person I can be for Ashley. The person I can be for all of you. Thank you all so much. Sincerely. I love you."
Ashley: "Wow do I mean it when I say that the support and love of the people here really got me through the more difficult seasons of my life, to where I am today. I can't say how grateful I am to have such wonderful, loving, incredibly beautiful souls to call my friends and my family. I love you all from the bottom of my heart!"