Computer software and other high-tech products have a history of unintended malfunctions or bugs in their systems turning into valued features.

But the Facebook glitch that affected Schuler and Celeste Benson might be the only one in technical snafu history that had romantic consequences.

By now, you’ve probably heard the made-for-the-movies story about how the Bensons got together. In 2009, Schuler, who was living in Arkansas at the time, opened Facebook mobile on his flip-phone and found himself inexplicably logged in to the account of a Boulder, Colo., woman he had never met. That was Celeste Zendler.

Courtesy of Schuler Benson

Eventually, the two resolved their social media problem but remained friends over the years. That friendship led to romance. The two met face to face in June of 2013. By the fall of that year, Schuler and Celeste were living together in Arkansas. In June of 2014, they were engaged, and a year later, they married.

Now living in South Carolina, Schuler, 32, is a grad student and teaches freshman composition. He also published his first book last year, a short story collection titled The Poor Man’s Guide to an Affordable, Painless Suicide. Celeste, who turns 30 in a few days, also is a grad student and works as an emergency room secretary.

Schuler, under the Reddit username PLAGUERAGES, posted about the couple’s meet-cute in the Never Tell Me the Odds community over the weekend. By Monday, their adorable love story had spread across the Internet, melting the hearts of even the most cynical comments section troll.

Still haven’t read the original post? Take a minute now to do that. We’ll wait for you.

Finished? Great! Because Upvoted spoke via email with the Bensons, who are currently dealing with horribly wet weather conditions at their home in South Carolina, about the unique genesis of their relationship, as well as what it has been like for them ever since their story went public.

What did family and friends think as your relationship developed? Was everyone supportive?

Celeste Benson: For the most part, my friends and family were supportive. A lot of my friends were familiar with Schuler just from seeing our interactions on Facebook and from me talking about him. A couple of people thought I was nuts and was going to be kidnapped for sure when I said I was driving to Arkansas to meet him. My sister actually made me check in with her with a code word the first time I visited him to make sure he hadn’t killed me. haha

Schuler Benson: Our families and friends were cautiously supportive. We were platonic friends for years before we took it to a relationship level, and I think watching each other go in and out of relationships with other people made us closer as friends. At the time, a lot of my friends were part of a fairly close-knit online community, and they welcomed her in with open arms. Her friends did the same for me on Facebook. Once we met in person, we’d known each other so long, I think our friends and families were cautious, but none of them were terrified or anything, I don’t think.

Describe that moment when you realized you were falling for the other person. What was it that you liked about the other person?

CB: I think I had pretty much realized I was falling for him before I got to Arkansas, but when he opened the door and hugged me, and I could hear his heart pounding as fast as mine, I knew I was where I belonged and that I never wanted to leave.

SB: Celeste was one of my best friends before we met in person. We had some striking similarities in our personalities while also coming from pretty different worlds. Once I saw her in person, it was over. I knew I loved her.

Courtesy of Schuler Benson

What was going through your heads when you made the decision to move in together?

CB: All I really remember is that we didn’t want to be apart any longer than we had to be. We knew we wanted to be together, and carrying on a long-distance relationship seemed like torture. He was still finishing up his undergrad, and I was ready to leave Colorado anyways, so he asked if I would consider moving, and I said absolutely! Let’s do this!

SB: The day after meeting, we decided she’d move to Arkansas. A lot of people asked why I didn’t move to Colorado, and that’s an EXCELLENT question. I was almost finished with a degree, and she was in a position where she was able to make a change. She’s extremely qualified in her field and found more than one place willing to hire her in the Northwest Arkansas area. We took some time to let people adjust, to get ready, then she moved to [Arkansas] in September of 2013. Once I graduated in May of 2014, we relocated to [South Carolina] together for school and work. While South Carolina wasn’t always the plan, moving elsewhere was.

What would you tell your son or daughter if they said they were going to move across country to live with someone they’d met in person only once?

CB: I’d probably ask A LOT of questions about the person they were moving in with, get background on them. And I’d do what my stepdad did with me. When I told him I was moving in with Schuler, he wanted his full name, birthday, address, and a picture of him, just in case I guess. [laughs] But ultimately, I would tell them to listen to their gut. Sometimes you have to take a chance on love.

SB: No plans to have kids. If our dogs asked though, I’d advise against it, because they are dogs.

Why do you think people have responded so strongly to your story? Are your own friends and family as taken by how you met as the general public has been?

CB: I think people enjoy seeing a happy side of social media—I know I do! It’s refreshing to read feel-good stories, and I am so glad that people see our story as inspiring or uplifting. I think we all have been taken by how crazy this has gotten. I never imagined our story would be shared all over the world! It’s crazy! But also very cool.

SB: Since the story blew up, our friends and family have just been wondering why it didn’t happen sooner. They’re just as in awe as we have been. And if you think about it, the odds are so astronomical that it’s kinda hard to not be a little taken aback. I think that resonates with people.

Has the sudden popularity changed things for either of you? What was it like at work for both of you?

CB: It hasn’t changed anything with me. Some of my co-workers commented on how cool our story was and how neat it is that it’s on the internet, but nothing too big. I haven’t gone to class yet, though, and I’m interested to see if any of my classmates saw it. My co-workers saw the story because we are Facebook friends, and some of them already knew our story.

“Celeste was one of my best friends before we met in person. … Once I saw her in person, it was over. I knew I loved her.”

SB: Not sure yet about the popularity. As you probably know, our state has had some pretty serious weather the last couple of days. I made the Imgur post over the weekend, and my campus was closed today (Monday) due to the flooding. I’ll be back there tomorrow (Tuesday), but I’m not too concerned about anything being different. It’s been wild that this many people have found our story interesting and inspirational (and I’m super humbled by it), but, I mean … it’s the internet, and it’s Monday… no one will know who we are by Friday, and that’s okay, too.

Have you contacted Facebook to find out what the glitch was? Has Facebook contacted you since your story has gotten out?

CB: I’ve tried getting in touch with Facebook a few times and it is basically impossible to get a hold of anyone there.

SB: I tried to get in touch with someone at Facebook before I proposed to Celeste, and was unsuccessful. Some interesting ideas about how the glitch happened have been posed on Reddit, but it’s all complicated stuff I don’t really understand. No one at Facebook has gotten in touch with us. Not too sure there are actual people working there. But, hey, if there are, I realize everybody’s busy.

What advice would give people trying to get to know someone via the web? What things would you do differently if you could?

CB: For meeting people on the internet, be nice and have a sense of humor!! Don’t take things so seriously!! As far as Schuler and I go, I don’t think I would change a thing. Our life is pretty darn perfect … OK, maybe I would have driven to meet Schuler sooner.

SB: As far as getting to know Celeste goes, I wouldn’t change a thing. Neither of us was looking for someone when we were thrust into each other’s lives, and I think that’s part of why it came together the way it did. As far as getting to know someone on the internet goes, as in if you’re looking for friends or something, I’d recommend a thick skin and a lot of patience.

Courtesy of Schuler Benson

Anything you would like to tell the world about your relationship that you want them to know or or dispel any misconceptions people might have?

CB: I agree entirely with what Schuler said. I still have days where I look at him and think how incredible it is that we found each other. He is my best friend and I never want to be without him! I am glad others find it to be as amazing as we do and want to say thank you to all the well wishes and congratulations we have received! People have been so wonderfully positive and kind. Thank you!! And also I’d like to say we are only two years apart! He is not drastically older than me.

SB: First, I’d like to say that if anyone reading the piece is inclined, our state has taken some major damage over the last couple of days, and apparently the worst isn’t over as far as flooding. Anyone who can donate to the Red Cross, please spare what you can. Celeste and I made it through just fine, but there are a lot of people who are in big trouble right now.

Next, I’ll admit outright that I’ve enjoyed some amazing experiences in my life, the greatest of which is meeting my wife. I’m also a pessimist, which makes me even more keen to just how rare and special our relationship is. If anything, I’d just like to thank all the people who’ve reached out to us publicly and privately to let us know something about our story was inspirational. Somebody on Imgur said they enjoyed our story because it provided an uplifting moment in the aftermath of losing a pet. That’s one of the realest levels on which you can touch another person, I think. So that felt great.