I moved from London to New York for my Hinge match after THREE dates

2022-12-21

I moved from London to New York for my Hinge match after THREE dates – five months later we’re married and having a baby

Angelica Malin, 31, booked a solo trip to the Big Apple in February 2022
Met lawyer Josh, 35, on Hinge and after three dates she didn’t return to London
Said it was love at first sight and she felt just like she was in a rom com
Pair are now married and expecting their first child together

A Londoner went to New York for the summer and never came back after falling ‘head over heels’ in love on the first date – and she’s now married to her Hinge match and expecting a baby just five months later.;

Angelica Malin, 31, booked a solo trip to the Big Apple in February 2022 to write a book and explore the city but sadly her dad unexpectedly passed away and so she rearranged to go in June.

The change of plans put her in the right place at the right time to match on dating app Hinge with Josh, 35, a lawyer living in Brooklyn and the pair felt sparks fly from the moment they met.

After just three dates, Josh asked Angelica to move to New York so they could build a life together.

Angelica Malin, 31, on her wedding day with husband Josh. The Londoner went on holiday to New York in June 2022 and after three dates with Josh she decided to stay for good

‘We matched on a dating app on a Sunday and by the Tuesday we were on our first date at a rooftop cocktail bar in Chinatown, ‘ Angelica said.

‘Before we went in I was standing on the pavement outside the building because I’d arrived early to meet Josh so I saw him pull up in his cab and suddenly all the clichés were true about love at first sight.

‘He stepped out of the cab and I thought: “That is the best-looking man I’ve ever seen.”

The happy couple are now expecting their first child, and admitted they talked about starting a family on their first date together

Angelica admitted that she was tired of playoing games in the dating world and asked Josh outright about his hopes for the future on their second date

‘Josh later told me that when he saw me he felt time slow down.

‘Honestly we both felt like we were in the movies.

‘It was everything I’d hoped for when I was single.’

Angelica says she booked the trip to New York to embrace her freedom as a woman in her 30s who hadn’t yet settled down like so many of her friends who are the same age.

She said: ‘Before booking New York I’d written a book called Unattached – all about why being single was empowering and I thought that it was time for me to live by those values.

Angelica booked a solo trip to New York to write a book, and admits that a friend told her she would probably fall in love

Just married! Only five months into dating, this December, Angelica and Josh married at City Hall in New York

The couple were not bothered about having a big wedding and grabbed the first available date so they could enter into 2023 as husband and wife

‘My friends were all getting married and busy having their babies and I didn’t want to feel like I was missing out on a life-changing experience while hoping to meet the right man.

‘When I told my best friend my plans she laughed and told me that I would fall in love and it turned out she was right.’

After their first date on 19 July this year, Angelica and Josh agreed to meet again that week.

She said: ‘After our first date went so well Josh walked me to the subway and we kissed on the busy street in Chinatown.

Angelica and Josh on a date night. She recalls how they had ‘completely fallen for each other’ after meeting just three times

‘Everything around us was so busy and honestly a bit smelly but it was very New York and very romantic.

‘I asked when we were going to see each other next and we agreed that Friday.’

On only their second date Angelica decided to wear her heart on her sleeve and with some dutch courage from cocktails at Soho House she brought up the prospect of marriage and family in their future.

She said: ‘I asked hypothetically if he wanted to have children in the future?

‘I was done playing small in the dating world, he was so exciting to me I wanted to put my cards down on the table.

Angelica and Josh at an NFL match.

‘I told him: “I think there is something special here between us,” and he agreed.’

The couple had one more date in the city before stormy weather rained off their plans and Josh invited Angelica to his apartment.

She said: ‘Being in Josh’s apartment and sitting next to each other on the sofa felt like the most natural and comfortable thing in the world.

‘We realised we had completely fallen for each other.

‘From that moment on we started to talk about building a life together, including having babies and getting married, it couldn’t come quick enough.

Once they realised they had fallen for each other, the couple couldn’t stop talking about plans for the future, including marriage and children

Angelica and Josh on a video call with Angelica’s friends in the UK on her wedding day in New York

Josh asked Angelica if she’d consider moving to New York to be with him on their third date and she had no hesitation in saying yes

‘Later on we ordered a takeaway and took it to eat on the roof terrace of Josh’s building in Brooklyn. There’s an amazing view up there of the skyline and the sun was setting.

‘Josh says he felt really nervous but he didn’t show it. He just asked me: ‘Would you move here for me?’

‘And without a moment’s hesitation I said yes.

‘Just a few weeks later I returned home to London to pack up my flat and relocate to New York indefinitely.’

Angelica hosted a farewell dinner party for 12 of her friends and gave away some of her things that she couldn’t take, then packed or shipped the rest of her belongings.

The writer pictured taking a selfie on her first date with Josh in New York. She admits it was love at first sight when he pulled up in a cab

Once she was back in New York she and Josh wasted no time in starting the rest of their lives together.

Only five months into dating, this December, they married at City Hall and are now expecting their first child next June.

Angelica said: ‘With getting married we just grabbed the first date we could, we didn’t mind when it was, we just really wanted to be husband and wife as soon as possible to see in 2023 as a married couple.

‘I bought a $120 French Connection dress from Bloomingdales, a $20 headband and wore some Zara shoes I already owned.

The couple taking a selfie on the subway. Angelica admits it’s a shame that she now lives so far away from family and friends, but she’s tried to include them as much as she can

‘We asked a photographer to take some snaps who usually covers sports, he only charged us $100.

‘But to us it was the perfect day.

‘Afterwards we went home and ate sushi in bed.’

Angelica says her family and friends have all been supportive although some are upset that she now lives so far away.

She said: ‘My best friends have had to miss some huge moments like our wedding but I try to include them as much as I can.

‘After our ceremony we went home and all my friends were on a video chat ready to toast me with a drink.

For her wedding day, Angelica bought a $120 French Connection dress from Bloomingdales and a $20 headband and wore some Zara shoes sheI already owned

‘We can still have really special moments of connection even though I am now so far away.

‘In January my mum is going to visit us and she’ll meet Josh’s family for the first time in person.’

Looking towards the future, Angelica says the couple have plans to move to a bigger home to meet their needs as a new family of three and then they might plan a wedding party in 2024 to bring their two families together to celebrate.

She added: ‘We are so deliriously happy to be leaving 2022 married and with a baby on the way, when five months ago I was single.

‘Falling pregnant happened quicker and easier than we had anticipated and we felt so blessed.

‘Our baby is very much a love child.

‘I want to share our story to tell others that if you keep your heart open and if you can be brave enough to ask for what you want you might just get it.’