A woman who visited New York for a summer holiday never returned home after falling 'head over heels' in love after a first date. Angelica Malin, 31, from London, ended up moving to the other side of the world after just three dates with her now husband.
She had booked a single trip to the Big Apple in February 2022 to explore the city and write a book. But after her dad unexpectedly passed away, she rearranged to go in June.
The change of plans put her in the right place at the right time to match with Josh, 35 - a lawyer living in Brooklyn - on the dating app Hinge and the pair felt sparks fly from the moment they met. After they spent three dates together, Josh asked Angelica to move in with him in New York so they could build a life together.
"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.'
"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."
As the only one in her group of friends who hadn't yet settled down, Angelica booked the trip to New York to embrace her freedom as a woman in her 30s.
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.
"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 July 19 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.
"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 that I wanted to put my cards down on the table.
"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.
"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.
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.
"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.
"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."
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