Leslie & Thomas

It might sound like something out of a rom-com: Thomas, a midwestern business guy, falls in love with Leslie, an LA-based, chart-topping songwriter. But we can assure you, their story is 100% real.

The two first connected on Bumble in 2021 before meeting at the Conservatory on Santa Monica Boulevard in LA. “It was still the pandemic, and everyone was wearing masks,” Leslie recalls. Yet, when Thomas finally took his mask off, Leslie laughed. “I knew I was in trouble.” The feeling was mutual — when Leslie removed hers, Thomas’s immediate thought was, “Uh oh.”

That simple unmasking led to hours of uninterrupted conversation as they closed down two venues that night in what would end up being both their “best, longest, and last first dates.”

Over the coming months, they went from live concerts to beachside wine outings, finding in each other a companion who could match their energy.…“We laughed ‘til our stomachs hurt and couldn’t get enough of each other,” Leslie says. And as the months went on, the connection grew deeper. “We realized we both have similar values and see the world in the same way, which is rare in LA.”

When asked what felt different about their connection on Bumble compared to past dating experiences, Leslie explains: “The beauty of Bumble is that because of the way the profile is set up, you really get a glimpse into who the person is.” She notes it also makes it easy to spot shared interests and values, giving you plenty to talk about on the first date.

A Wedding Day Their Way

Their relationship has always followed its own script, and nowhere was that more evident than on their wedding day in Dallas this past March. “We did NOT do it like most people,” Leslie says with a smile.

True to that spirit, they skipped separate bridal suites and got ready together under one roof before a dance-party bus carried them and their closest friends to the church. “We had all of our favorite people in one place, and it was a memory we will never forget.”

And, of course, we can’t forget to mention Winnie the Roo, the surprise kangaroo wedding guest that became the evening’s unofficial star: “She was the hit of the party!” Leslie says.

Love and Marriage

Now, as a married couple, they reflect on how their relationship has changed the way they move through the world. “We are both naturally positive, happy-go-getters, but when you put us together, it feels like there is nothing we can’t accomplish.”

For Leslie, who had built her business solo for years, having Thomas in her corner has made all the difference. “Now, with his sales/marketing/business brain, I have been able to take my business to heights I didn’t even realize were possible.”

When asked about what they’re most looking forward to next as a married couple, Leslie says, “We can’t wait to have kids and raise a family. We are also so excited to keep making memories and building our life together.”

Made for Each Other

Sometimes you see two people together and the fit is obvious. At their wedding last March, her brother called them “perfectly matched” — the kind of pairing that feels like “true love.”

And when you think about it, it’s amazing just how much had to line up for them to meet. Leslie agrees: “To think a business guy from Indiana could meet an artist from Texas all while living in LA is crazy. We don’t know how it happened, but we are unbelievably grateful that it did. We each found our best friend and our teammate in life.”