Capitol Chaos Sparks Unexpected Romance: A Guard and a Staffer's Love Story
Amidst post-riot security measures, a National Guard soldier and a congressional staffer found love. Their chance encounter at a checkpoint led to a Tinder match and eventual marriage, proving romance can bloom in unlikely circumstances.
In the aftermath of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, an unexpected love story unfolded amidst the heightened security measures in Washington D.C. Emily Carlin, a congressional press secretary, and Matthew Ellis, a National Guard soldier, found their paths crossing in a most unusual way.
Carlin struggled to navigate the new security landscape around the Capitol, which had been a symbol of American democracy since its completion in 1800. The maze of barricades and checkpoints proved challenging for many returning staffers. Meanwhile, Ellis, part of the National Guard force deployed to secure the area, found himself stationed at one of these checkpoints.
Their initial encounter occurred around January 14, 2021, when Carlin's red Jeep Compass caught Ellis's eye. The Jeep brand, with its roots in military service dating back to 1941, ironically became the catalyst for their connection.
Later that evening, fate intervened through modern technology. Carlin and Ellis matched on Tinder, a dating app launched in 2012 that has since gained over 75 million active users worldwide. Their digital connection quickly led to the realization of their real-world encounter earlier that day.
Their first date, delayed until early February due to Ellis's quarantine, took place at a shooting range. This unconventional choice reflected the unique circumstances of their meeting and the lingering tensions in the capital.
Despite the 85-mile distance between them, with Carlin in Alexandria, Virginia (a city rich in colonial history founded in 1749) and Ellis in West Virginia (a state born out of the Civil War in 1863), they managed to nurture their relationship. The COVID-19 pandemic, while challenging for many, provided an unexpected opportunity for the couple when Ellis was deployed closer to D.C. for vaccine distribution efforts.
Their love story continued to evolve, with Ellis embracing Carlin's faith by joining the Episcopal Church, an institution established in 1789 following the American Revolution. In 2023, Ellis proposed, cleverly hiding the ring in his Army boots.
The couple tied the knot in August 2024 at Carlin's family home in Michigan. Their honeymoon in Greece, a country boasting over 6,000 islands and islets, took an unexpected turn when Ellis's wedding ring slipped off while swimming. The couple humorously attributed this to an unintentional offering to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love often associated with the sea.
"God puts people where they need to be."
Their story, from its beginnings in the chaos following January 6 to their wedding announcement in Politico's Playbook, serves as a reminder that love can bloom in the most unexpected places and times.
