Joel & Jayde

When Jayde moved to NYC, one of the first things she did was download Bumble. While scrolling through profiles, she spotted a familiar face — Joel’s — and thought, Why not say hi?

Before this virtual hello, she and Joel had met in real life thanks to mutual friends in their industry. “We share many similar hobbies. One of the first we had in common was fashion and clothing.” So “after a few scrolls, swiping of stories, and finding out we had mutuals via the internet, we stumbled into one another’s Follow Requests.”

Years later, Bumble turned that connection into a real conversation. “She actually DM’d me,” Joel says. However, while it took a few tries for Jayde to agree to a date, “we made it work,” he laughs.

Finding Common Ground

Their early conversations circled back to fashion, but Joel soon wanted to share another part of his life: rock climbing. Her “yes” came as a surprise to them both. “This was a big deal for Jayde,” Joel says. But three guest passes later, she was a member at the climbing gym, and their relationship only deepened.

That willingness to try something unfamiliar is one of the ways Jayde knew the connection was real. “I am very much a homebody,” she admits. “With Joel, I am able to try new things, things I would usually never do, because I have him as my comfort — the same comfort I feel when I’m at home.”

“I knew the connection was real when we went on our first trip to Hawaii together,” Joel says. “One of the best vacations of my life. She balances me out and I love her for that.” Meeting his family and immediately clicking with his cousins only confirmed it. “Everyone loves her, and having them express it to me makes me very glad.”

In those moments, it was clear what they valued most in each other. Jayde is drawn to Joel’s passion and drive — the way his whole demeanor changes when he’s chasing something that excites him. “I never knew I wanted that in a partner until now,” she admits.

Joel admires Jayde’s steady presence — how her structure and routines complement his spontaneous, go-with-the-flow nature. “I think we balance each other out that way,” he says.

That balance will matter even more soon, with Jayde heading to California for a new job while Joel stays in New York to study radiology. But long distance isn’t new to them — early on, Jayde spent a year back in California, an experience she says strengthened their communication, built trust, and gave her space to focus on her own goals.

And while the two embark on exciting new career chapters, when asked what else is ahead for the couple, Jayde says she’s excited for Joel to meet more of her family at an upcoming wedding. “Family is the most important thing to me, so for him to meet the people I grew up with and raised me is a moment I can't wait to see unfold,” says Jayde.

The Importance of Being Earnest

While messaging someone on a dating app for the first time can feel intimidating, for Jayde and Joel, a simple “hi” was all it took for them to go from mutual follows to something more meaningful. And if anyone knows how to make a connection stick, it’s these two. “Keep it light and fun,” Jayde says when asked what she’d tell someone using Bumble now.

But she’s quick to add that it all comes down to authenticity. “Being authentic to yourself, not just on dating apps, but everywhere on socials, attracts people like you,” she says — and she believes that’s how trust and deeper connections start to form.

Joel echoes Jayde’s advice, adding, “At the end of the day, people will appreciate the real you over an image you’re trying to keep.”