Kyle & Kate · May 21, 2016 – May 21, 2026
The Long Way Home
A decade of love, adventures, and finding home in each other.
The Photo That Started It All
March 12, 2011 — Omaha, Nebraska
Two years before they met, Kyle attended a Texas A&M MBA talk in Omaha and snapped a photo with Warren Buffett. That photo would end up on his Match.com profile — and change everything.
““He's with Uncle Warren, how bad can he be?”
One Wink, One Day, One Chance
Spring 2013 — Match.com
Kyle winked at Kate on Match.com. Her username was "nyygirl" — a proud New York Yankees fan. She made him wait a whole day before winking back. They exchanged emails, started dating, and the rest is history.
““I 'winked' at Kate, and waited, hoping she would like my profile and would 'wink' back. She made me wait a whole day before sending the response I was hoping for.”
““Kate got my 'wink', but wasn't sure she was interested. This picture was posted on my Match.com profile and when Kate's dad saw it he said 'He's with Uncle Warren, how bad can he be?' With her dad's nudging, Kate gave me a chance and 'winked' back.”
Coffee, Burgers & Tater Tots
March 2013 — San Pedro & Long Beach
Their first date was coffee at a Starbucks in San Pedro — one hour that felt like minutes. A few days later, dinner at Beachwood BBQ in Long Beach. Both ordered cheeseburgers well-done. Kate's love of tater tots earned her the nickname "Tater."
““We passed an hour in what felt like minutes.”
The Road Trip Test
Memorial Day 2013 — Arizona to Vegas
Less than three months into dating, they embarked on a Memorial Day road trip that would become permanent family mythology. A Diamondbacks game, Sedona, the Grand Canyon — then nearly running out of gas in the desert, a police escort at 45 MPH, and the last room in Vegas at the Hooters Hotel.
““The ENTIRE city of Kingman was booked… I mean every hotel.”
““Kyle worried after that trip that Kate's parents would never let her go anywhere with him again.”
Memorial Day 2013 · The Route
Game Day
Phoenix
Hotel night one and a Diamondbacks game.
Red Rock Country
Sedona
A beautiful drive through Sedona.
The Invisible Bridge
Grand Canyon West
The Grand Canyon Skywalk — and the adventure was just getting started.
62 Miles of Range. 60 Miles to Gas.
Middle of Nowhere
The moment they looked at the fuel gauge and did the math.
Police Escort at 45 MPH
Kingman
A cop followed them for 40 miles while Kyle coasted in neutral downhill. They made it to gas. But the ENTIRE city of Kingman was booked.
The Hooters Hotel
Las Vegas
Kate's parents found the last room in Vegas — $300/night at the Hooters Hotel. Dinner: cheesy tater tots and chicken wings.
The Feeling of Coming Home
2013 — Hermosa Beach
A few months into their relationship, Kyle traveled to Phoenix for work. When he landed back in LA, instead of going to his place in Long Beach, he drove to Kate's apartment in Hermosa Beach. Turning off PCH, a mile from her place, something washed over him.
“I'll never forget turning off PCH, a mile or so from your apartment, and the feeling of 'being home' washing over me. It was your place, I didn't live there. But it felt like I was coming home. That was the moment when I knew I loved you.”
— Kyle
““I finally had someone to come home to. Someone who had been thinking of me and missing me and was waiting for me to walk through the door.”
The Ring in the Sock
November 15, 2014 — Long Beach Marina
Kyle hid the ring box in his sock and took Kate on an early morning walk to the lighthouse at the Long Beach marina. When he'd asked Kate's dad Mark for his blessing, Mark told him something he'd never forget.
““If you marry my daughter you're marrying into the family.”
““So fun to say that. It is now official. So glad you are having such a wonderful day. We love you both so much and are so very happy for you. It is nice to have another wonderful daughter in our family… and so glad it is YOU.”
Dear Uncle Warren
2014–2016 — Planning a Life Together
During the engagement, Kyle wrote a wedding invitation to Warren Buffett, explaining how a photo with the Oracle of Omaha helped him find the love of his life. Kate wrote personalized poems for each bridesmaid. And the whole family traveled to Omaha for the 2015 Berkshire shareholders' meeting.
““Kate and I would be honored to have you attend our wedding in Santa Monica. It's right down the street from Charlie's place. I'm sure he'd agree to be your +1.”
““Her father is a CPA and you and Charlie are to him what One Direction is to a teenage girl.”
Nautical Chic
May 21, 2016 — Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
Kate Makena Granich and Kyle August Matthies were married at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel at half past four on a Saturday afternoon. Uncle Darryl officiated. The theme was Nautical Chic — navy and tan. Their song was "Whatever It Is" by Zac Brown Band.
Venue
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
Fireside Lounge & Ocean and Vine
Officiant
Uncle Darryl
Song
"Whatever It Is"
Zac Brown Band
Theme
Nautical Chic
Navy & Tan
Cake
SusieCakes
Date
May 21, 2016
Half past four on a Saturday afternoon
““You're the best thing that's ever happened to me.”
““My vows to you today do not come with terms and conditions. They are absolute. I vow to love you unconditionally and without end.”
Kyle’s Vows · May 21, 2016
Kate, my life has changed in so many ways the past few years.
Before I met you, I was the ultimate bachelor. I thought you only needed to use a vacuum when you moved out so you could get the security deposit back. I wasn't the most organized… In a moment of desperation, I once opened a bottle of wine with a screwdriver and pliers… I used to "iron" my clothes by hanging them in the bathroom with the shower on as hot as possible to steam them… I guess you can blame me for the drought. But probably most disturbing of all, I often survived on hot sauce pocket pasta and cottage cheese tacos…
Based on my life before I met you, I can say with 100% certainty; you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Now, I vacuum every week, occasionally iron my clothes WITH THE IRON, and haven't had hot sauce pocket pasta in years. But there have been other changes. I stop at the store on the way home to get flowers. I plan fun and surprising date nights and weekend getaways. And I think about our future together. Kate, you're the FIRST AND FINAL consideration in EVERY decision I make and I wouldn't have it any other way.
You complete me in every sense of the word; you're my soul mate. I know the days ahead will be full of ups and downs, but I vow to never lose sight of my love for you.
As I prepared for today, I thought a lot about our past. When I first met you, when I fell in love, and when I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you by my side. A key moment came for me a few months into our relationship when I went to Phoenix for work for a few days. Coming home, I landed in LA, but instead of going to my place in Long Beach, I went to yours in Hermosa. I'll never forget turning off PCH, a mile or so from your apartment, and the feeling of "being home" washing over me. It was your place, I didn't live there. But it felt like I was coming home. My heart soared as I turned onto your street, I couldn't wait to hold you. That was the moment when I knew I loved you. I finally had someone to come home to. Someone who had been thinking of me and missing me and was waiting for me to walk through the door. I knew at that moment I would always have a place to call home. A home with no hot sauce pocket pasta.
I promise to work every day to give you the devotion and support that you deserve and that every day will end with at least a few minutes of snuggles.
I promise that no matter the circumstance, you will never face another challenge alone.
I promise to be a better listener and realize it's not about the nail.
I promise I will always be your best friend, and that you can pick every other movie, even if it's a chick flick.
I promise to never stop learning and striving to be a better individual so that our relationship can continue to grow.
And yes… I promise to help with cleaning (and vacuuming) even though I really really hate it!
Finally, and this one is TOUGH, I promise to admit when I am wrong and to be a compromising partner who works with you to solve problems.
My vows to you today do not come with terms and conditions. They are absolute. I vow to love you unconditionally and without end. Today is the best day of my life; I will never forget how happy I am standing here with you. I look forward to all our adventures together, to building a family, new traditions, and continuing our love story.
Coming Soon
Kate’s vows will be added here
Bora Bora Bliss
2016 — Tahiti & Bora Bora
Two weeks in Tahiti. The InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort. Overwater bungalows and crystal-clear lagoons. Kate summed it up perfectly.
““I had the best honeymoon EVER!”
““I am so excited to be your wife and start another chapter.”
Home Is Where the Heart Is
September 2016 — Mission Viejo
Just months after the wedding, they found their first home: 26801 Bridgeton in Mission Viejo. In their letter to the sellers, they wrote about Kate's smile when she walked in, and how they could picture bringing their first child home there. And within weeks, they had news to share.
““Kate had a smile on her face that I knew meant she loved the house.”
““We can picture bringing our first child home to your house.”
““Congratulations on your baby and I hear it's a girl. How exciting. Good job on breaking the streak!”
Hello, Makena
May 11, 2017
Makena J. Matthies arrived on May 11, 2017 — named after Kate's own middle name. The first granddaughter on the Matthies side, breaking the boy streak. Kyle couldn't stop holding her.
““I go home and hold her all night. It's going to be fun to spend more time with her.”
““We are so EXCITED. :)”
She's Here!
August 22, 2019
Morgan Rose Matthies arrived on August 22, 2019 — 8 pounds, 8 ounces. Before her birth, Kyle admitted it was "a little sad that it won't just be the three of us." But the moment she arrived, everything was perfect.
““She's here! 8 lb 8 oz, momma and baby are doing great!”
““Can't wait for more adventures as a family of 4.”
““We announced the baby's name on Friday — Morgan Rose.”
16 Melody Lane
September 2021 — Ladera Ranch
After four and a half years in Mission Viejo — welcoming Makena, Morgan, and Buster the dog — the family moved to 16 Melody Lane in Ladera Ranch. They wanted the girls to grow up with more friends in their neighborhood. A month later, they returned to Maui as a family of four.
““So the girls can grow up with more friends in their neighborhood.”
““We were in Maui, the girls had a great time.”
A Decade of Us
2022–2026 — And Beyond
Ten years. Two homes. Two daughters who fill every day with laughter, surprises, and more love than they ever imagined. From a Warren Buffett photo on Match.com to Melody Lane in Ladera Ranch — the long way home was always the right way.
““A house and a hotel in Hawaii and stay there for a year and buy a Chihuahua and a thousand Goldie busters.”
““Give it to kids that don't have a lot of things.”
Morgan’s Code Word for Love
“Beep Beep”
““I look forward to all our adventures together, to building a family, new traditions, and continuing our love story.”
Ten Years
May 21, 2016 — May 21, 2026