Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Upworthy to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

Love can bloom in the most unexpected ways, and for Summer Pfleger, it all started with a dare. The TikTok user, who goes by @summerwa101, shared a heartwarming video documenting how a playful challenge from her mother led her to the love of her life.

It all began when Pfleger noticed a handsome employee at the front desk of a Holiday Inn. Encouraged by her mom, she nervously picked up the phone and made a call that would change everything.


"My mom dared me to call him… so I did!"

— @summerwa101

A simple dare turned into something magical

In the video, Pfleger shared her initial hesitation before making the call. Despite her nerves, she followed through. When the employee, Ethan, answered, she told him she thought he was cute and asked if he was single. To her delight, he was—and they exchanged numbers.

"All because you made a phone call!"

— @tiffany_livehost

From first dates to forever

Two panels depicting a post on TikTok by Summer Pfleger. It isn't unheard of for a relationship to start on a dare, but to capture the moment on camera is a treat. TikTok | @summerwa101

What started as a dare quickly turned into a whirlwind romance. Pfleger shared updates with her followers, revealing that she and Ethan had gone on several dates. She also documented the sweet moment when he officially asked her to be his girlfriend—with a unique twist.

Since their first conversation involved her asking for a fork, Ethan made it memorable. He gave her a fork engraved with "Be my girlfriend" and the date they met.

Two panels depicting a post on TikTok by Summer Pfleger. The met over forks, so he asked her to mary him with one. TikTok | @summerwa101

Their love story continued with romantic gestures, including Ethan decorating a table with butterflies—Pfleger’s favorite. Eventually, on her birthday, Ethan proposed at the spot where they had their first date.

A love story that came full circle

@summerwa101 Little did I know I was gonna end up marrying the cute boy from the Holiday Inn. This video took a year to make! #fyp #foryoupage #justmarried #married #couple #holidayinn @Holiday Inn Express #marriage ♬ original sound - Summer Pfleger

One year after their first conversation, Pfleger and Ethan tied the knot. She shared a final video update, dressed in her wedding gown, ready to say "I do."

"Did I watch the entire thing and celebrate like you were a close friend? Yes. Congrats!"

— @kjb12345

Even Holiday Inn Express, where Ethan worked, joined in on the celebration:

"Congrats to you both! We are so excited to be a part of your love story."

— @holidayinnexpress

One phone call, a little courage, and a push from Mom led to the love of a lifetime!

More For You

nesting party, baby shower, pregnant

Dad documents wife's nesting party held by her close girlfriends.

here4thedads/Instagram

Dad shares how wife's girlfriends skipped traditional baby shower for task-completing 'nesting party'

Expecting a new baby is a thing to celebrate. Most expectant couples are thrown a traditional baby shower–with food, gifts, games and more. But they can also become a big production–which is why Tiana Krah's girlfriends decided to skip it and instead throw her a 'nesting' party.

Tiana's husband, Myer Gzi-gzi Krah, shared a video on Instagram of exactly how they rallied around their entire family to help them nest (aka prepare) to welcome their new baby–the couple's fifth child. He captioned the video, 'Are Baby Showers Out in 2025?', adding, "We Skipped the Baby Shower… And It Was the Best Decision Ever!💪🏾 Baby showers are cool and all, I actually love the meatballs but I don’t need meatballs—I need help!😂"

Keep ReadingShow less
groom, wedding speech, speech technology

Groom's non-speaking son gives emotional wedding speech using new speech technology.

rorafilmco/Instagram

Groom's nonverbal son gives tear jerking wedding speech using his speech technology device

One thing that is almost always guaranteed to make you cry is wedding speeches. Full of love, emotion and sentiment, wedding speeches are the epitome of wholesome storytelling. And for bride Chenin and her groom Brian, they got the surprise of a lifetime during their recent wedding reception from Brian's nonverbal son Evan (who has apraxia and autism)–a tearjerking and witty speech that was made possible from new a new speech technology method.

"This was probably the most emotional speech I’ve ever witnessed," rorafilmco founders Jimmy and Lex, wedding videographers in San Diego, California, wrote in the video's caption. "Everyone in the room had tears in their eyes including me, as Brian’s son delivered the most beautiful and yet witty speech that no one saw coming."

Keep ReadingShow less
Images from a baby name reveal.

The moment this mom realized her daughter's name had a hidden Batman connection.

They picked the perfect baby name—until a movie changed everything

When it comes to baby names, parents pull inspiration from all sorts of places—family history, beloved books, even favorite meals. But sometimes, a name carries a hidden meaning that only one parent is in on. That’s exactly what happened to TikTok user @viashoe, whose daughter's name has a secret connection to Batman that she didn’t discover until well after the birth.

A casual Thanksgiving reveal

In a now-viral TikTok, @viashoe shared the moment the puzzle pieces fell into place. While spending Thanksgiving with her husband’s family, they decided to watch Batman: The Animated Series—a classic from the '90s that's known for its dark tone and emotionally complex characters. As the show played in the background, someone in the family was entertaining their baby girl when a familiar voice on the screen said, “My wife, Nora…”

Keep ReadingShow less
man in blue long sleeve shirt carrying baby in white onesie

Dad hacks!

Hilarious dad discovers a brand-new hack for calling his daughter downstairs

As every parent knows, getting your child to do the thing you want them to do can be an impossible, Sisyphean task. How can I get my child to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’—and not just utter the words, but actually mean them? What could possibly entice them to help out more around the house? Is going to bed at a reasonable hour something kids actually do, or only an urban legend?

In a Reddit form on r/Parenting, @sabinesse1054 asked a question about the difference between productivity and pleasure.

Keep ReadingShow less
A mother scolds her child in a dim room.

Parents might be setting their children up for a lifetime of issues without ever realizing it.

Psychologist warns about 'eggshell parenting'—and why its effects last a lifetime

Children thrive in environments where they feel safe, secure, and loved. But when these feelings are unpredictable, it can create lasting emotional harm. Dr. Kim Sage, a licensed psychologist from Newport, California, has popularized the term "eggshell parenting" to describe this dynamic. Through her TikTok channel (@drkimsage), she has shared hundreds of videos explaining how eggshell parenting affects children and their future relationships.

What is eggshell parenting?

Eggshell parenting occurs when a child's emotional environment is dictated by a parent's unpredictable outbursts. Dr. Sage explains that this forces children to be constantly on high alert, suppressing their natural emotions and behaviors to avoid triggering a negative reaction. "Eggshell parenting and emotionally unpredictable, unsafe parenting often creates a lifetime of hypervigilance in us and a deep belief that there’s no such thing as real safety in relationships," she says.

Keep ReadingShow less