Like any modern love story… we met on Tinder. At first, it wasn’t exactly promising since Alexis actually left Marissa on read for a bit, but she eventually came to her senses and started replying. We made plans to meet at Pinthouse Pizza, and from the start, it was… memorable. Alexis did most of the talking, while Marissa needed a little liquid courage to settle in fully. Somewhere in the conversation, Alexis casually mentioned she was divorced, which definitely caught Marissa off guard. Come to find out later, she meant she had gotten out of a long-term relationship with a man… so, slight miscommunication there. Despite all that, something just worked. Marissa made the first move (because Alexis was a little too in her head), and from there, things escalated quickly, in the best way. We became inseparable almost immediately, spending nearly every day together and never wanting to leave each other’s side. At some point, Alexis bought Marissa a pink overnight bag and a dresser, which pretty much sealed the deal. Marissa was basically living with Alexis, and Alexis made herself just as at home at Marissa’s place, too. We realized this was something serious when we were spending every moment together, making plans, and still never getting tired of each other. Somehow, even though we’re a little different (Marissa likes going to concerts and Alexis previously rotated through the same four artists), we just work. And somewhere along the way, it became very clear this wasn’t just a Tinder date. We said “I love you” for the first time in Arlington, Texas, after a Rangers game, and that was it for us.

Alexis proposed first on December 3, 2025, and somehow managed to completely surprise Marissa, which is no small feat. She planned a whole setup at an Airbnb that was equal parts romantic and festive. Think candles, garland, a mini Christmas tree, “It Was Always You” light-up letters, and even a “Will you marry me?” ornament. She got down on one knee, asked the question, and read a few heartfelt words off her phone (a little nervous, very sweet, and very Alexis). What Marissa didn’t know was that Alexis had created an elaborate fake plan involving her best friend, a Mexican restaurant for drinks, and a sushi dinner. It was all a lie, and honestly, Marissa was a little disappointed there was no sushi or margaritas after all that buildup. Thankfully, that was quickly corrected. After the proposal, they celebrated at Taquero Mucho and then spontaneously stopped by a Christmas pop-up bar. It turned out to be everything Marissa could have wanted. Thoughtful, romantic, and completely unexpected. A couple of weeks later, on December 18, 2025, Marissa had a plan of her own. She recreated their first date (well, at least the food part), but in a softer, cozier way. A white tent over a mattress, tealight candles, flower petals, romantic music, and a “Forever & Always” sign. There was pizza from Pinthouse Pizza (where they had their first date), sushi this time, a bottle of wine, roses, and matching white silk pajamas. Marissa got down on one knee, read what she had written, and asked Alexis to marry her. They ended the night exactly how you would expect: eating their food and watching Alexis’ favorite Christmas movie, Happiest Season, until Marissa fell asleep shortly after the movie started.

Colorado has always held a special place in our hearts, especially after a trip Alexis planned for Marissa’s 30th birthday. Alexis chose Colorado because Marissa had been wanting to see one of her favorite artists, K.Flay, and at the time, there weren’t any shows in Texas. So instead of waiting, she planned a whole trip around it. We drove all the way from Austin to Colorado. It was our first long road trip together and our first time traveling somewhere outside of Texas. It probably would have been easier to fly, but Marissa was terrified of flying at the time, and Alexis still made it happen anyway. It was a long drive, but completely worth it. During the trip, we packed in everything. We went to a rage room for the first time, explored Denver Union Station, enjoyed good food, went to the concert, and even got matching Colorado tattoos of the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Colorado's state animal). One of the highlights of the trip was visiting Garden of the Gods for the first time. Between the views, the mountains, and even getting to see snow, it became one of our favorite places. That trip was full of firsts for us, and it made choosing Colorado for our elopement feel like an easy decision.