When she announced her engagement, reactions from friends and family ranged from surprise to confusion. Part of the reason was that they had yet to meet the man she had asked to marry her—and she barely knew him herself. After meeting Sam in November 2019, she proposed just four weeks later. Nearly seven years on, the couple recently celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary.
At the time they met, she was 31 and Sam was 43. She was navigating a transitional period after leaving New York, where she ended a five-year relationship and parted ways with a job she disliked. Moving to London, she lived in a small shared room in Camberwell with two housemates she barely knew. Dating during this period was challenging, marked by encounters with emotionally unavailable men who often ghosted her.
In a final attempt to find a partner, she expanded her dating app age range to include older men. She came across Sam’s profile on Hinge, where he described himself in a skeptical and straightforward manner, distancing himself from typical app clichés like yoga and travel. This candidness stood out amid profiles dominated by fitness enthusiasts and fishermen.
Despite both of them being in unstable personal situations—she was unemployed and uncertain about her future, while he was renting a room near a home he once shared with his ex-fiancée—they found a connection. Their first date took place at a pub in Clapham, South London, where nerves got the better of her and she drank heavily. Despite the rocky start, they continued to see each other regularly, with her often staying at his place due to her uncomfortable living situation.
The couple shared a similar outlook on life and a matching sense of humor. He cared for his grandmother and brought her breakfast in bed, actions that created a comforting and natural dynamic between them. One evening, after a few glasses of wine, she proposed. Though surprised, Sam accepted. The next day, he checked whether she was serious, and upon confirming, they began ring shopping.
Aware of the fast pace, they planned to wait nearly a year before marrying, setting their wedding for September 2020. Family and friends were initially puzzled by the quick engagement. Some expressed concern over their age difference and the short period they had known each other, with one close relative questioning her awareness of Sam’s age. Even their best man, when first told about the engagement, reacted with disbelief.
Their wedding occurred during a brief period in the COVID-19 pandemic when gatherings of up to 30 people were permitted. This unexpected circumstance may have muted broader objections. Despite initial skepticism and early bets on the longevity of their relationship, the couple has now spent seven years together, six years married, and raised two children.
Reflecting on her choice, she acknowledges it may have seemed impulsive, but she wanted to avoid prolonging unsatisfying relationships or waiting indefinitely for a proposal. She valued finding a partner willing to take that leap of faith alongside her. While she admits some nervousness about how to explain their unconventional start to their children in the future, she recognizes that sometimes taking risks can pay off—though she cautions it is not a certainty for all.