I flew 800 miles from London to Sweden to meet my Hinge date – it was love at first sight and now we’re engaged

• Olivia, 28, and Thomas, 31, overcame a 800-mile distance and are now engaged
• READ MORE: Expert’s magic rule to know when you have found ‘the one’

A woman who flew 800 miles to meet her Hinge date said the leap of faith has paid off, as the couple are now engaged.

Olivia Tapper, 28, matched with her now-fiancé Thomas Philipps, 31, from Poole, Dorset, when he was visiting her native country of Sweden. 

After connecting on the dating app, Olivia said the duo immediately hit it off and wasted no time in arranging a physical date so they could learn more about each other.

But the road to true love hit a snag when after organising to meet up, Thomas accidentally got his dates mixed up and had to fly back to Britain, meaning the couple’s first date was cancelled.

The business developer ‘eager’ to follow her heart, made the bold move to hop on a plane to the UK.

Olivia Tapper, 28, matched with her fiancé Thomas Philipps, 31, on Hinge before deciding to fly from Sweden to London for their first date (Pictured: The happy couple pose together)

Olivia matched with Thomas when he was visiting her native country of Sweden (Pictured: The couple with their dog Leo)

‘It was a bold move, flying to another country for a date but my intuition told me it was the right decision’ said Olivia.

‘I was a blend of nervous and excited. I was eager to see where this unique connection would lead’.

Things progressed quickly for the pair, who were immediately taken aback by a flaming chemistry.

Both Olivia and Thomas longed to take things to the next level and without further ado, Olivia decided to take matters into her own hands. 

In August 2022, the soon-to-be bride forged ahead and booked a ticket to the UK, hoping it would pay off – despite initial reservations. 

‘The distance between the UK and Sweden, coupled with my demanding career, made me question whether to continue our conversations’ said Olivia.

‘But there was something intriguing about Thomas that made me want to keep in touch’.

The couple came face-to-face for the first time when Thomas whisked her away from the airport in his car, and the pair drove back to his hometown, just two hours away.

Olivia, a business developer, was ‘eager’ to follow her heart after the pair hit it off online

Thomas said of his sweetheart: ‘Her willingness to commit and make an effort for our relationship gave me the confidence and assurance to move forward’

The couple came face-to-face for the first time when Thomas whisked her away from the airport in his car, and the pair drove back to his hometown, just two hours away

Despite the potential awkwardness of a 100-mile drive, the pair clicked and said their connection was ‘undeniable’.

Olivia added: ‘Our first face-to-face meeting was during a lengthy drive from London to Poole.

‘It was a situation that could have been very awkward but it turned out to be an amazing journey.

‘We discussed everything from business ambitions to personal dreams, and the connection was undeniable’.

Thomas, the CEO of Pet Portraits, couldn’t have put it better himself: ‘Our chemistry was undeniable’ he said.

‘I was quite annoyed when our first date didn’t happen and missing that opportunity was frustrating.

Thomas, the CEO of Pet Portraits said the couple’s chemistry was ‘undeniable’

The future Mr and Mrs Phillips have already expanded their family, with the addition of their pup Leo

‘I realised that to make this work, we needed to invest time in getting to know each other through frequent FaceTime calls.

‘Both of us were serious about finding life partners, not just casual dates, and that deepened our connection rapidly.

‘Her willingness to commit and make an effort for our relationship gave me the confidence and assurance to move forward.

‘That’s when I knew we had something special that was worth pursuing’.

After one more visit to see Thomas, Olivia quit her job as a strategic business developer and moved to the UK permanently.

After all, maintaining a cross-border relationship required ‘a lifestyle that offered flexibility and travel’ said Olivia.

And since their first date last year, the couple have gone from strength to strength,  with Thomas even getting down on one knee after a year. 

The couple are still weary of the ‘whirlwind’ romance and have resorted to weekly relationship reviews, which they say has helped them grow their connection in a short period of time

Here, Leo is pictured posing from the camera at the couple’s home, who now live their full time

Things have progressed quickly for the pair and they eagerly anticipate moving to the USA with Leo

Becoming the future Mrs Phillips was not something Olivia took lightly however, and said broaching the topic initially felt ‘daunting’.

She said: ‘Asking Thomas about exclusivity was daunting, but his straightforward “yes” was all I needed to hear. It solidified my decision to invest in this relationship’.

The couple are still weary of the ‘whirlwind’ romance and have resorted to weekly relationship reviews, which they say has helped them grow their connection in a short period of time.

Now, they plan to make a big move across the pond together.

‘Life has been a whirlwind of joy and growth’ said Olivia.

‘We’re eagerly preparing for our wedding and planning our future in the USA.

‘Nurturing our bond through open and honest communication has been key.

‘Our weekly relationship reviews have become a cornerstone of our connection, keeping us grounded and in sync.

‘I initially thought working and living together would pose challenges but it’s been surprisingly easy and enjoyable’.

Thomas added: ‘The prospect of building our empire together fills me with excitement and happiness.

‘I am truly content with the path we are on and eager to see what the future holds for us’.

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