THIS WEEK, TAYLOR AND MICHAEL SHARED THEIR LOVE STORY WITH US. THEY MET IN THE MOST NYC-WAY EVER (ONLINE) AND STARTED DATING AFTER TAYLOR MADE THE TREK FROM BROOKLYN TO HARLEM (A BIG DEAL, GEOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING) TO HELP MICHAEL WASH HIS DOG ON THEIR FIRST DATE. ALTHOUGH THEY LIVED IN DIFFERENT BUROUGHS, FROM THAT POINT ON THE TWO WERE INSEPARABLE. 

AS ALWAYS, WE ASKED OUR COUPLE A FEW QUESTIONS AND WE GOT ANSWERS. NEITHER MICHAEL OR TAYLOR HAVE SEEN EACH OTHERS ANSWERS...UNTIL NOW.

TAYLOR SAID:

How did you meet Michael? 
I met Michael on OKCupid.
How long have you been engaged?
10 Months
Who asked who out and how?
I messaged Michael in December of 2014 and didn't hear back until the end of January 2015. He didn't say much in his message other than "I'm terrible chatting on these things. Here's my number." Despite the being left on 'read' for a month, I still thought he was cute enough to give him a shot.
What was the most memorable thing about your first date?
Our first date was...different. He had been talking for a few days, and this one day, in the conversation he said he was just headed home from work and had to bathe his dog, Olive. Me being me, interjected that maybe I could travel from Brooklyn to East Harlem to help out. He said it was always easier when he had help holding her in the tub. With that, I made the hour trip into and up Manhattan. By the time I arrived he said he had already washed her, and that now we had more time to catch up. I ended up spending the night, and almost every night since, until we moved in together later that year.
Tell us about the proposal(s) in your words.
Michael proposed in the Blue Lagoon, Iceland. The previous year we began our vacation there and witnessed the entire sunrise that morning. Between the snow, steam, light blue water and pink sky he recalled something about what I said, about it being the most romantic place/thing I had ever been part of. So when he proposed, he knew where to do it. I had no idea about the proposal and was only just understanding what was happening as he guided me though the water. He had become increasingly insistent on getting me secluded and in the back half of the spring. It was only as I trailed slightly behind him to a wooden platform that I saw him put something on the edge. Then he asked me to marry him. Said yes of course.
When are you getting married?
Aiming for Autumn of 2020. We actually are heading down to northern Pennsylvania this weekend to look at a venue that might just be the one. It's near a very special town I used to vacation at with my parents as a kid. So, this location is becoming solidified as a bench mark in my life.
Do you see children in your futures? 
I believe so! The naming part will be difficult though. I have strong opinions.
What is your favorite thing about Michael?
Physically I'd say the way he tries to hide a smile when I make him laugh and he doesn't want to admit I'm occasionally funny. As for what his soul offers, it's his confidence and resolve that has captured my heart. He's got a strong foundation behind those eyes that keeps me calm and together whenever we face difficulty together. It's those qualities that make him the man I wanted to marry.
What is Michael’s biggest quirk?
This is a hard one. I wouldn't say it's something he does, it's something he doesn't do. He can't snap his fingers. It's literally how I trained our dogs to sit, and he can't snap. 
Does Michael have any special talents / hobbies? Does he ever help with your quilting? 
He doesn't help with the quilting, but once he did start a bidding war to raise the price for us. It did almost go to him, but his plan worked and the other guy won it. Talents would be hard to nail down, as a lot of what he does at work expresses his talents for working with people. He's a maverick at that. He also is a pretty great cook. OH, and he does however have a small collection of little porcelain thimbles with images of the cities we've traveled to painted on them. It's a small collection, but one that I expect to grow over the years.

MICHAEL SAID:

How did you meet Taylor?
Taylor and I met on OkCupid
How long have you been engaged?
We got engaged this past January
Who asked who out and how?
We started talking and then I disappeared because it was the holidays and I work retail. I didn’t log into my account for a month or two and got back in touch with Taylor when I did. We both knew we wanted to get together and I believe I asked him out.
What was the most memorable thing about your first date?
I remember being very busy that week and convincing Taylor to come all the way from Brooklyn to East Harlem to see me. He came to my place because I was getting chores done on my day off and needed to wash the dog haha.
Tell us about the proposal(s) in your words:
Taylor once told me that the most romantic moment he ever had with me was watching the sunrise in the Blue Lagoon on a trip we took to Iceland. I knew that I wanted to recreate that memory for him because it was such a special place in his memories. We were planning a trip to Europe and I finally found a flight with a layover in Iceland. It was only a 5 hour layover so I knew it would be tough and the window to get there would be a few hours before sunrise. We got on a bus from the airport at 6AM and were the first ones at the Lagoon. Taylor was distracted and wanted to float around but I knew exactly where I wanted to be and was anxiously clutching the ring in a sealed plastic bag in my bathing suit pocket. I was able to convince him to move to the back of the Lagoon before all the other tourists got there. He will never know if I was on one knee or not since the water was murky, but I took out the ring and asked him if he would be with me forever.
When are you getting married?
We are still planning a date but ideally next year in the late fall
Do you see children in your futures?
Absolutely! I grew up in a large family and Taylor and I both love kids. I’m hoping for 2.
What is your favorite thing about Taylor?
Everything was a story or memory for Taylor. Every item in our apartment has meaning to him and is very personal. He has a very romantic view of the world and it always impresses me how vividly he remembers everything.
What is Taylor's biggest quirk?
He is very tactile. He will sit after dinner and rub a napkin over his hand for 20 minutes and not even realize he’s doing it haha.
Does Taylor have any special talents / hobbies?
He makes beautiful quilts and also knits.

*Update* — Taylor and Michael have chosen a date + a venue! They will be getting married at Herman & Luther's in Northern Pennsylvania on May 22nd, 2021!