I (Natalie) had about 11 days left for my profile to stay up on JDate. I cancelled my account after a year of frustration and lack of success. I was still receiving emails, but ignoring almost all of them, if not all of them. Shai emailed me about 10 days before my profile was going to be removed. He mentioned a mutual acquaintance, which got my attention. We spoke on the phone for the first time on that day March 3, 2010. On the phone, after speaking for a very long while, we realized that four years prior, his brother tried to set us up – and set it up so that we would run into each other. We barely got a glimpse of each other at that moment as we were passing by. During the next four years, several more people tried to set us up, yet we never officially met. In fact, there were many times we were in the same room together and never met. Shai had to find me on his own.

We went out on our first date on March 6, 2010 and have been inseparable ever since. I was Shai’s second date from JDate. Needless to say, the last. Not in a million years did I think I would find the love of my life on JDate. Shai told me on our first date that I would be his wife and I thought he was crazy. Until today, he continuously asked me “where did I find you again?” He too can’t believe we met on JDate. We both can’t believe our good fortune; especially with how hard it is to meet someone of quality at this day and age, and considering all our misfortune of past relationships… up until we met. Our second date was on March 7 and our third was on March 9 on a plane to New York together where we spent four fabulous, AMAZING days and fell madly in love. It was ironic considering this is the second time around for both of us, and both of us swore we would never, ever fall in love, let alone marry again.

From the very beginning, Shai wanted us to get married right away and brought it up time and time again. He just knew from the first moment, this was it. I told him, “All in due time,” as I was afraid we would rush things. However, on November 1, 2010 Shai proposed and asked me to marry him THAT day and I didn’t hesitate. I said yes!

Within a few hours, tears of joy in our eyes, and much excitement, we had the marriage certificate, rings and one of our business attorneys (who happens to be a justice of the peace and a good friend), marrying us at a friend’s house. We eloped! It was only the four of us. Our friend served as the witness. We didn’t tell a soul. The next morning, we called everyone and told them. No one was shocked, as they all knew we were soul mates. But, everyone did expect to see the big Jewish wedding very, very soon. We became business partners shortly thereafter, another arena we shared and now succeed at together.

On March 6, 2011, on exactly our one year anniversary, we had the big Jewish wedding with all our friends and family looking on as we exchanged our own vows and had the rabbi marry us the “right way.” There were so many tears in our eyes, as well as in the crowd, as we emotionally walked down the aisle and exchanged our vows.

That wasn’t enough for us. We “renewed” our vows November 1 on the beach in Kauai, Hawaii during our honeymoon. It was our one-year anniversary of the civil wedding, but going on our two-year anniversary of meeting each other.

Today, we are even more madly in love than we were when we first met. We are best friends and have it all. We work together, travel the world, play and enjoy life in every aspect and are thankful for every moment we share together. We look forward to our lifelong journey together with baited breath, and we thank JDate every day of our lives for bringing us together. JDate brought these 2 soul mates together… our only problem is… WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?

Thank you, thank you, thank you SO much JDate!!!

Natalie and Shai
Encino, California