We're getting married!

Some love stories begin with grand gestures or perfect timing. Ours began during Welcome Week, standing outside of Our House in Downtown Davis, two strangers waiting in line without realizing their lives were about to change forever. Alexa was immediately drawn to Joel’s smile, the kind that made her feel safe and seen all at once. Joel was captivated by Alexa’s spirit, her warmth, and the quiet strength she carried so effortlessly. What started as casual conversation about our hometowns and families quickly became something deeper. In each other, we found a feeling that neither of us expected so far from home: comfort, familiarity, and belonging. We had both left Los Angeles carrying more than just suitcases. We carried the hopes of our families, the weight of sacrifice, and the determination to create lives bigger than the circumstances we were born into. Coming from places where dreams can sometimes feel out of reach, we recognized the same hunger in one another, the desire to build a future filled with possibility, stability, and love. Our first date was supposed to last a few hours. Instead, it turned into three unforgettable days together. From that moment on, we became inseparable, best friends, partners, and each other’s safe place in a world that often felt uncertain. Through college, long nights, difficult seasons, celebrations, and sacrifices, we stood beside one another as each other’s greatest supporters and loudest believers. People often say, “When you know, you know,” and for us, that feeling came early. But love, to us, was never only about the feeling. It was about choosing each other every single day while building the kind of life our future family could stand firmly upon. Together, we worked, dreamed, struggled, and grew side by side, always believing that everything we were building would someday lead us here. No matter the distance, the challenges, or the seasons of change life brought our way, one thing never wavered: our love and belief in each other. In every version of life, we continued finding our way back to one another. And now, after all the years, prayers, sacrifices, and beautiful moments in between, we get to stand here surrounded by the people who helped shape our journey. Our hearts are full knowing we are celebrating this day with our nearest and dearest, the family and friends who loved us, encouraged us, and carried us through every chapter. Thank you for being part of our lives, our love story, and this incredibly special milestone. We truly would not be here without you.