Wedding Date on Jun 15, 2020

We met the way most successful relationship begin...in the grocery store, I mean swiping right on Bumble. I knew I loved Meredith and actually said it to her nearly a month after we started dating. July 8, 2018 - I had planned an entire 'date day' and utilized the hashtag #DrivingMissMazie. As a business owner, she never really took much time off, especially on the weekends, so it was a big deal to me she was willing to give us so much time together. The day progressed beautifully: - Picked up Roze lattes from Cafe Roze (one of our guilty pleasures) - Made brunch together - Went and got pedicures because 'Treat Yo Self'; Meredith then put out there she would be willing to help decorate my condo/room from its current state - I took this as her indirectly saying she wanted to be a part of my world/have a hand in 'home' together (this made me giddy) - Off to Homegoods to find plants, pillows, etc followed by late lunch at Chopt - Had to go in to Target to see what we would see and then it was home decor time; Meredith actively wanted to and proceeded to help me redo the decor in my living room, bedroom, and bathroom. This also included a nice purge from me and it felt very symbolic of the closure of bachelor Matt and the solidification of a chapter in our partnered relationship. Last stop for the day was The Belcourt to see the Mr. Rodgers movie, "Won't you be my neighbor". We both cried during it in the best way. After the movie, we sat in my Jeep reminiscing about the day. She continually expressed how grateful she was for the day I had planned and how it was so special to her I would want to spend an entire day with just her. I was overcome with my emotion at that point and stumbled on my words. I kept saying, "well, you know...it's what you do...I enjoyed it...it is what you do for someone so awesome..." She immediately called me on being weird and would not let the point drop even as I took her home. "What was I going to say"? she kept asking, over and over. Finally at home, I couldn't hold onto the emotion any longer and blurted out, "I Love You". Today, this, is what you do for someone you are in love with...she was wide eyed, had a slight smirk because OF COURSE SHE KNEWWWW, and said, 'oh'. Thank you. It only took her one more week to find her way to reciprocate and say she loved me back - and we have been wildly in love ever since. Life is like that perfect feeling of being simultaneously hot and perfectly cold. There are the moments of extreme passion and understanding, coupled with days of being wrapped up like BAErittos on the couch. There is truly such understanding between the two of us and it transcends even my understanding (Matt here :P). Unconditional support and encouragement, greeted by sassy challenging wrapped in love. Through our biggest struggles and trials from nearly losing the store amidst a tornado and global pandemic to immediate family deaths to the passing of a grandparent; our love has done nothing but solidify its vastness. Each day, we are looking for ways to show up with love and act on it for our forever partner. Our wedding style started with Meredith and by her eye alone, we are having the best damn wedding I have ever seen. And trust me on this - I have officiated five weddings, been in 9, and attended over 35 as a guest (those were some of my favorites). The wedding started with the emotional feelings of fall in color and in richness of experience. We had this vibe and injected the vibrancy of summer as that marked our anniversary date. The dates, June 15th and now also November 2nd, which will serve as the day my world changed forever. The colors are deep and inviting, just like Meredith. It is minimal and contemporary, where things like ghost chairs marries into rustic. As a farmer growing up, I have always had an appreciation for things that come from the earth and display strength. Antique furniture represents this kind of display and is also the hobby of my hero and father, Arthur Dolson. Meredith recognizes this and tastefully has turned our home into a modern rustic bungalow, which translates into the decor for our wedding. Overall, the day is a forever blending of our lives and commitment to the other. It will show Meredith for whom she is and forever will be, a beautiful and strong woman who always shows up for those she loves. It will have many tears from Meredith and also Matt. Tears of joy for this new chapter and excitement to create memories as husband and wife. –Matt