These Two Couples Prove You Could End Up With Your Internet Crush
PHOTOS: COURTESY OF JENA CUMBO
Between all the swiping, rating, and super-liking, online dating has begun to feel like little more than another Candy Crush — something for you to do on your phone when you want to kill time. But, while the internet may not feel like a spot for finding long-term relationships, that certainly doesn’t mean it never happens. Jena Cumbo and Gina Tron’s book, We Met On The Internet, is a direct response to this misconception.
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In a conversation over email, Cumbo explains that online dating is “definitely not for everyone,” but, she continues, “it’s becoming pretty ubiquitous… We are connected to the Internet so much of our days that it’s really not surprising to me that those connections spur modern love.”
Through photos and short essays, the book tells the stories of real-life, committed couples who connected online in a myriad of ways, from the charming to the truly random. Cumbo even mentions to us one couple who found love through a mutual interest in Charles Bukowski’s grave. Of the 53 couples that appear in the book, no two are remotely the same.
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While that much is clear, Cumbo adds that there was one thing that remained consistent: “We really photographed and interviewed a pretty diverse array of couples in terms of their ages, races, socioeconomic background, and sexuality, but I feel there was a real genuineness to all the couples… I really felt that they truly loved and respected their partners.”We Met On The Internet proves that technology can be a remarkably human presence in our daily lives.
Here, Cumbo and Tron share with us the tales of two couples: Noah and Adam, who met on Instagram; and Jessica and Alex, who met on Craigslist. (Side note: If anyone in the comments could link us to the “Meaningful Relationships” Craigslist page, that would be great. We keep getting sent to “Submissive Female Requests.”)
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Scroll through to read about how these pairs got together, straight from We Met On The Internet. You can buy the book here.
“Jessica and Alex met on Craigslist because they said that Christian Mingle was too expensive. Jessica posted an ad on Craigslist with a list of qualities she was seeking in men. Of about 300 responses, Alex won. Why? Because he had the best dick pic, said Alex.” With a screening process as LOL-worthy as Jessica’s, no wonder she found a guy who could match her sense of humor.
“‘We knew we liked each other from the start,’ she said. They emailed one another over the course of a few weeks before meeting up in person for a Thai dinner. 'Our eyes lit up when we saw each other,’ said Jessica. They shared a night cap after the meal at a bar downtown. 'Since then, we haven’t spent much time apart,’ she said.”
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“Jessica said Alex is pretty much the greatest dude she ever met. Alex said of Jessica, 'She’s awesome!’”
“They like to eat home cooked meals together, hang out with their cat, watch films and play Monopoly. Jessica said they like to take field trips and plan and plot out their future together. 'We generally just enjoy being around each other,’ she said.”
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“The two got married at New York City Hall. 'Our waiting number was 666 and we got married in chapel 13,’ said Jessica. Afterwards they had a beach ceremony in Cape May, New Jersey followed by dinner, a pool party and karaoke. Their love story was featured in NY Times Modern Love and in NYTimes Weddings Vows.”
“Adam was browsing through Instagram one morning, looking at random feeds. He saw a photo from the trailer of Paddington Bear with the caption 'little bear, big city.’ He clicked on it and found Noah’s Instagram feed. 'Much to my delight, his photos were quirky, beautiful and had just enough selfies so I could tell he was super cute.’ He also liked Noah’s art. He found Noah on Facebook in January of 2015 and sent him a message telling him how cute he was.”
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“When he reached out to Noah, Noah was already well aware of who Adam was. Years before, Noah’s photographer friend showed him pictures he took of Adam. 'Before me on the screen was without hyperbole, the most delicate and beautiful man I had ever seen,’ he said. He had watched Adam’s videos of his dance performances and listened to his singing, through an internet search. Noah responded to Adam’s message with a simple 'you smoldering.’”
“After chatting for two weeks over the phone and FaceTime, Noah flew from New York City to Seattle to visit Adam. 'It was very romantic and we couldn’t keep our hands off each other,’ said Adam.”
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“Within a few months, they professed their love for one another. Two months into their relationship they spent a weekend in a cabin in Kerhonkson, New York. 'It was in that cabin where I felt like I was Adam’s partner. I also felt my love for him transformed from the infatuation I had with his image those many years, into an actual love, based on respect and admiration of his character, his openness, and the feeling of him in my arms when we sleep, my nose on the back of his neck,’ said Noah.
"The couple gets out into the wilderness almost every time they see each other. In the summer of 2015, they took a trip to Iceland. They also love visiting art galleries and eateries from coast to coast.”
By Sara Coughlin
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