After just a week of messaging on CatholicMatch, Therese and Phillip met for their first date at a restaurant halfway between both of their homes. Although the food there was good, they got so wrapped up in conversation with each other that they actually forgot to order anything! After almost four hours of conversation, the date only ended because both of them had to go feed the meter.
Online dating is a modern necessity!
Therese and Phillip had both been using CatholicMatch on-and-off for five years, respectively. At first, online dating seemed a little difficult to both of them. However, after college, they both realized that online dating was a modern necessity if they wanted to meet somebody who was looking for the same type of relationship as they were.
Therese said that while she dabbled in other online dating websites, she preferred CatholicMatch because of the features that allowed her to so easily see the beliefs and values of potential partners.
So, they started discerning marriage...
Therese and Phillip began dating just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, which they said played a significant role in their relationship. Spending nearly six weeks apart during quarantine made them realize that they wanted to take their relationship to the next level sooner rather than later.
Because of their great conversations, good connection, and good chemistry, it became evident early on that they were ready for marriage. Therese said, “We just needed to learn and understand each other, and where some of our fears and anxiety lay, and how to be sensitive to that.”
They began discussing marriage after about three months together. After talking to Phillip’s brother, a priest, they decided that they wanted to get married in the winter.
Although Therese knew from these discussions that she could expect Phillip to propose sometime in the future, Phillip really went all out on making the day romantic and full of surprises.
A very romantic engagement!
He began planning their engagement by taking Therese on a series of dates to revisit sites they had previously been to. On one particular day, Phillip took Therese to a small beach they had been to in the past. Waiting there for them was a group of mutual friends, and another surprise… this one, buried in the sand! In an event that can only be described as the world’s most romantic treasure hunt, Phillip had a custom wooden chest commissioned and buried it on the beach to be dug up by Therese and himself.
Inside the chest, which had his and Therese’s names carved on to it, Phillip buried 250 gold one-dollar pieces and a handmade, leatherbound journal filled with pictures of Therese and himself, and important dates from their relationship. A section in the back of the journal was cut out, and inside, a diamond engagement ring had been placed for Therese to find.
Now, they're enjoying their married life.
Therese and Phillip were married on January 2, 2021, at a church near the restaurant where they had their first date. Although they originally wanted Phillip’s brother to officiate the ceremony, he was unfortunately not able to due to COVID-19. However, the ceremony went off without a hitch, and Therese and Phillip’s twenty-three guests were happy to celebrate with them.
They made up for their small wedding by having two receptions; one for their close friends and Therese’s family in Michigan, and another down the road for Phillip’s large extended family. Phillip said that planning two receptions was actually nice, because they were able to do things differently at each celebration, and it was nice to be able to celebrate with all of the people they wanted to include.
Since their wedding in 2021, Therese and Phillip have only grown closer. They said they are continually finding out that they are more compatible than they thought and discovering new things.
Therese and Phillip have a special devotion to St. Michael the Archangel and St. Phillip Neri. Let us pray for them and their growing family. In 2022, they are expecting their first child, a baby girl.
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