Matthew’s Version

It would be fun to say Madison and I were high school or even middle school sweethearts since that’s when we technically met. Instead, our story begins as corporate sweethearts. After Madison graduated from Arkansas and I graduated from Clemson in 2021, we both joined the Finance Development Program at AT&T in Dallas, Texas. We both knew of each other but still found it necessary to re-introduce ourselves on the first day of work. We sat next to each other every single day and became such great friends for almost two and a half years before we actually started dating. What started as a friendship through work and happy hours evolved over time to me looking for any and every opportunity to spend time with Madison outside of work.

In the Summer of 2023, I ran into Madison at a cocktail bar, and we sat in a booth and talked for hours. Madison now says this was the moment she realized she had feelings for me, and I finally started to think she might be into me too. Fortunately for me, she showed her hand a little bit and invited me to a BBQ at her parent’s house with a bunch of her close friends (and no other coworkers). I knew I had finally broken through.

About a month later, we traveled to Colorado with a group of our friends for a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Lily, our Maid of Honor, could see how much Madison and I liked each other and made it her life’s mission to get us to see the same on this trip. Traveling with Madison confirmed what I already knew – it was time to ask her out. I was pretty nervous, but at the Goodwin Girls’ Halloween Party, Madison’s roommate, Mallory, gave me the confidence I needed and told me to get moving (she used more colorful words). I took her word for it and asked Madison out that night. A few days later we went on our first date (I was so sick with the flu, but I refused to cancel). I knew that night that I was going to marry her.

From that point on, we were off and running. Two months later, I asked Madison to be my girlfriend, and two weeks after that, we went to our first wedding together (thank you Austin & Nan). Spending time with Madison is my favorite thing in the world, no matter what we’re doing. We are constantly laughing, being silly together, and dancing whenever we get the chance! She is my best friend. Sometimes I wish I would have asked her out sooner, but we know that God’s timing is perfect and everything happened exactly how it was supposed to.

After months of preparation, on July 25th, 2025, I proposed to Madison. Somehow, I managed to surprise her, and we were able to celebrate with so many of our friends who traveled across the country to be there. Now, we are looking forward to gathering everyone in Beaver Creek on October 2nd, 2026 to celebrate once more. Madison, I love you so much and cannot wait to celebrate with you forever.