In the fall of 2023, Alex and William were just one awkward first date away from swearing off online dating—at least for a while. Then fate (and a little misunderstanding) stepped in. William stumbled across Alex’s Hinge profile and, thanks to an Iron Bowl photo with her dad, assumed she was an Auburn fan. That tiny mix-up was all the excuse he needed to match and send a message.

When Alex saw William’s profile, she was instantly drawn to his kind eyes and easygoing vibe. Their first date was at Back Forty Beer Company—despite the fact that William was gluten-free and couldn’t drink beer at the time! They laughed, connected over shared values, and discovered a mutual love for spending time with their family and friends.

By date three, they both knew this was something special. From that point on, they’ve been inseparable. And by month two? They took the obvious next step: adopting their adorable puppy, Lila.