Some love stories start with a grand romantic gesture. This one started with a super like that got completely ignored.

Simon and Kim grew up in Raleigh and even went to the same high school, but somehow managed to never really know each other. It wasn’t until Simon came back to Raleigh after college that fate (and Bumble) decided to intervene. Simon shot his shot with a super like. Kim saw it, got nervous, and did what any reasonable person would do: closed the app and pretended it didn’t happen.

A week later, she finally worked up the courage to reach out on Facebook. The rest, as they say, is history. After a first date of pizza and playing pool, followed by more dates filled with good times and laughter, it was clear pretty quickly that this was something special.

Things moved fast, in the best way. Shortly after they started dating, Simon showed up on Kim’s birthday with a brand new puppy named Bear. It was, by his own admission, all part of the master plan. The responsibility of a dog had them moving in together before long, and Kim, watching the bond between Simon and Bear, decided she needed a dog of her own too. Enter Junie. Within about a year of their first date, they had a shared home and two dogs to prove it.

They survived two puppies, a global pandemic, and years of living together. If a relationship can make it through all of that, it can make it through anything. At some point, it became pretty clear this thing had the legs to go the distance.

Six and a half years, two dogs, and a lifetime of memories later, Simon kicked off 2025 the only way that made sense: by getting down on one knee on New Year’s Day. He couldn’t think of a better way to start the new year than by beginning the next chapter with the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with. Kim said yes.

The wedding is almost here. After years of laughter, adventures, and figuring life out together, they are ready to make it official, and they cannot wait to celebrate with the people they love most.