Today (and always) we’re celebrating the reason we are so lucky to do what we do: the true meaning of love. It makes us thrilled to work in an industry where it’s constantly celebrated and February is a great reminder to go above and beyond: enter SK Love Stories.
I (Kennedy, Social Media Director, speaking!) have had the pleasure of personally knowing Madeline from 5 years old, and Matt for nearly 5 years. In fact, I met him not long after they met, and long before I knew they were going to fall madly in love, move in together, make another state jump to California together (I’ll take credit for this), and eventually get engaged with an SK ring, bringing two beautiful humans I’m so lucky to know even closer yet. And now, I get to celebrate them in another way and I couldn’t be more honored. From college to CA, Madeline and Matt have shared many adventures. Read their charming tale in this week’s spunky SK Love Story.
Names: Madeline Cuniff and Matt Dietz
Current Location: Santa Monica, CA
Meeting Date + Location: August 2017, Boise
Wedding Date + Location: TBD 🙂 Enjoying being engaged
Back to the start of all of this – how did you lovebirds meet?
Mad: We originally met in March of 2017 because our roommates happened to be seeing each other, it was very brief (I remember it well, Matt does not). We re-met each other in August 2017 when I sat next to him in Econ 303. He was immediately in love, obviously.
Your first date – give us the details.
Mad: Matt asked me to his fraternity formal in Coeur d’Alene, ID for our first date. It’s an 8 hour drive and was an overnight trip, it was literally the most fun road trip of my life.
When did you first say “I love you”? Who said it first?!
Mad: Matt said it first! I believe we were at a tailgate for a football game that fall, surrounded by all of our friends and having so much fun. It was freezing cold and Matt was giving me a big hug to warm me up and I guess it just slipped out hahaha but I obviously reciprocated immediately.
How or when did you know that your significant other was the one?
Mad: We went from living in the same college town, to long distance from Portland to Boise after graduation. In March 2020, Matt moved in with me in Portland in my 600-square-foot apartment. Shortly after, we both started working from home every day, and went from seeing each other twice a month to spending 24/7 together and constantly having to listen to the other on calls all day. Portland was having a particularly rainy spring, and we spent a lot of time inside the first few months. We both would literally do it all over again in a heartbeat. Like seriously – how were we possibly not SO sick of each other I have no idea!
The proposal – please tell us the story!
Matt: I planned to take Maddy to a beach in Malibu with our dog that we often go to. Our best friends (cough cough, Kennedy) came over when we left to grab some extra clothes and very kindly decorate our apartment. Both of our parents were here to surprise her and were told to meet on the PHC to see the magic happen. When we arrived to the Ralphs in Malibu, I got a text from our photographer (who I have never met) that the waves were too big and we could not make it to the beach. Panicking and starting to heavily sweat, we slowly drove to the parking lot to find that we could indeed not get down to the beach. Maddy began to get rightfully frustrated as I tried to scale the rocks and we got back in the car and headed back to Venice. Fully prepared to propose on the side of the freeway, we pulled over to see if we could get down from another angle. Noticing the photographer and our parents watching from a distance, I dragged Maddy down a dirt hill to a small ledge to “watch the surfers” for a minute. Maddy getting more rightfully frustrated that she is now dirty and not equipped to scale a small cliff, was ready to leave when I saw our friends pull up behind our parents out of the corner of my eye. Without falling off the cliff, I dropped to a knee, grabbed the wrong hand and popped the question. She thankfully said yes and we had a wonderful afternoon with family and friends, grateful of how everything worked out.
What is your favorite thing about your significant other?
Matt: Her attitude, drive, compassion for others, always there for me, my forever best friend.
Mad: Matt has this way of making everyone feel special, when he is speaking to you or asks you a question, you genuinely feel that he cares and is listening. He makes people feel heard and important and I think it’s such a special quality. Also my forever best friend.
Do you have any notable stories that have stood out over the years – hilarious, sentimental, anything!
Mad: A month or so after we met, on a random Tuesday during fall semester I asked Matt if we should drive 3 hours to some hot springs and go car camping. He immediately said yes and we left within the hour. Little did I know, Matt had a supply chain test the next day. When he finally told me, he said he studied all weekend and was good to go. Shocker, Matt did not study and completely failed his test and the entire class. Matt would say he was just falling so in love with me he had to go camping and be spontaneous with me.
What’s your go-to date night idea?
Mad: I’m lucky enough that Matt often will make us a fancy dinner for a date night at home, but living in LA we love to try new restaurants since all the food is soooo good. You’ll find us at a new spot at least once a week. We also love brewery hopping, dive bars, and takeout Night Market on the couch at home. Oh and also morning beach walks with coffee from Little Lunch!
Let’s talk jewels – how did you choose this ring?! Who took the reigns on designing or choosing your ring? Give us all the deets.
Matt: A wonderful and deeply loved friend that also happens to work at Sofia Kaman educated me on the different diamonds and designs (hi again, Kennedy). After multiple visits to Sofia Kaman we found the perfect piece, with the only direction from Maddy being “it better cover my knuckle or I don’t want it.”
Our Oval Annika design looking stunning off of PCH.
How is wedding planning experience? What’s been different about wedding planning than you imagined?
Mad: We haven’t even gotten to thinking about what our wedding will look like. We are truly just having so much fun being engaged. But what we do know – our wedding will be big enough to host our gigantic families and our friends, with lots and lots of alcohol. As sappy as it sounds, I feel like our love is so special that it makes me really excited to share it with the people we love. Part of me feels like eloping would be so wonderful, but it actually makes me sad to think about the people we love not being able to witness this special relationship we have in such a romantic and intimate way.
What are you most excited about for your wedding?
Mad: Saying our vows and crying uncontrollably with all our family and friends!
Matt: Agree, I literally can’t wait to write my vows.
Will there be a there a honeymoon involved?
Matt: YES! We’re doing Paris & Saint Tropez 🙂 Hopefully something else in there!!
Alright – so what does the future hold for the two of you?! Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?
Matt: Married, happy and healthy as hell, little babies running around and calling dad their favorite 🙂
Mad: I unfortunately fully agree, in no world do kids love me more than Matt.
Finally, if you could add any piece to your SKFJ collection, which one would it be?!
Mad: I LOVE the rings with black diamonds! They are so chic and I would happily rock one on my finger.
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