In the midst of a quarantine, Shannon decided to sign up for CatholicMatch.
Shannon, 27, had always been intrigued by the dating site. After hearing how a friend of hers had met her spouse on CatholicMatch, she felt it was a much better alternative from the secular dating apps she had previously tried. On their second Covid-quarantine, she and a roommate decided to create dating profiles...“Maybe to pass the time, or maybe because we were feeling optimistic,” recalls Shannon.
After about two months, Shannon almost deleted her profile from lack of activity. But just before doing so, Joe sent her a message. Thoughtfully picking out a detail from Shannon’s profile, Joe asked her where she liked going kayaking. Both residing within the Twin Cities of Minnesota, the two quickly connected on their shared love for the local outdoors.
Joe, 28, had tried CatholicMatch two other times before. He returned to CatholicMatch a third time in hopes of meeting someone who was actually serious about their faith. After meeting with 16 other women in person from online connections, Joe had developed a rule of thumb: only message someone for a week tops before asking them on a date. So after a week of messaging, he asked Shannon out on a pandemic-friendly date...A walk around a Minnesota lake in the dead of winter.
Slippery ice, spilled coffee, and Marvel movies, oh my!
While both felt a little nervous about meeting for the first date, their walk around Lake Nokomis was memorable. “Other than being VERY cold, I remember Joe making me laugh by sharing his past dating horror stories”, Shannon recalls, “and Joe remembers me sharing my funny stories about my first-grade students.”
Joe also slipped on a patch of ice and almost spilled his coffee all over Shannon! Yet, making the best of dating during such strange times, that first date sparked enough interest to meet a second time.
What truly sealed the deal for Joe that day was when Shannon mentioned she was going home to complete a Marvel movie marathon with her roommates. “It spiraled another 15-minute conversation just about Marvel movies,” says Joe, thinking, “oh yeah, I’m definitely going to be asking her out again!’”
A trip to the ER gets them thinking about marriage.
After about a month of going on dates, Joe and Shannon decide to become official. The two soon had many adventures together. Enjoying concerts, playing board games at coffee shops, escaping from every escape room they’ve ever tried, and kayaking on Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes!
Since this was Joe’s first serious relationship, they wanted to take their time building a solid foundation. Their experiences together gave them ample opportunity to do so. At one point, Joe had a medical emergency that landed him in the Emergency Room. Shannon stayed by his side the entire time, and through that event, Joe realized that perhaps he could marry Shannon.
During a road trip back from Wisconsin some time later, Joe and Shannon had a discussion about their future together. “You know, it kind of feels like we shouldn’t say ‘if we get married’, we should be saying ‘when we get married,’” Shannon remembers telling Joe.
A proposal worthy of a dream!
Ever since she was a little girl, Shannon had dreamed of what her perfect proposal would be like. Irvine Park, in her hometown, during Christmas-time. The park puts on a beautiful Christmas lights display, and when Shannon and Joe visited it together during Christmas 2021, she shared with Joe how she always thought it would be the most perfect place to get engaged.
However, when Joe was ready to propose to Shannon, it was the balmy summertime of August. Yet, remembering what Shannon had shared with him, Joe recreated the Irvine Park lights display…in his condo!
Using fake snow, a replica of the Irvine Park sign, tons of Christmas lights, penguins, Christmas trees, and other Christmas decorations, Joe made it look just like the Irvine Park Christmas Village! Before popping the question, Joe took Shannon on a driving tour of all their memorable spots from their relationship, culminating back at Joe’s Christmas-village condo.
In the end, it’s not about how you meet.
After a blessed engagement season, Joe and Shannon were married on July 1, 2023 at Shannon’s home parish. Surrounded by about 200 family and friends, the day was memorable and smooth. At the reception, they shared their first dance with the song “Forever and Ever Amen,” performed live by Joe’s dad and uncle.
Soon after the wedding, the couple went honeymooning on a 7-day cruise in Alaska. The newlyweds remark how one of the best parts of marriage so far is not having to go home at night to their separate places. “It’s kind of like having a slumber party with your best friend every day,” laughs Joe.
Looking back, Joe and Shannon realize that there were so many times their paths could have crossed before meeting online. Both living in the Twin Cities area and attending many young adult Catholic events, they likely could have met in another way. But God used a quarantine and CatholicMatch to bring them together, and for that they are forever grateful.
“It’s not about how you meet, it's about who you meet,” Joe advises. “I’d much rather meet the love of my life online than have a fun meet-cute and it not be the same.”
Continue Reading
