They met on New Year’s Eve, surrounded by familiar faces. Alex was there with his brother Rick, sister Maggie, and soon-to-be sister-in-law Emily—who also happens to be one of her best friends. Alejandra joined the group with Em and her boyfriend Ryan, and before long they were laughing, chatting, and dancing the night away (with a special appreciation for Pitbull-iykyk)! As most New Year’s Eve nights do, the evening ended with a kiss at midnight. They exchanged numbers, though Alejandra remembers thinking it might be a bad idea—after all, they were both going to be in Emily and Rick’s wedding, and she worried things could get awkward if it didn’t work out. But the next day they continued to message each other. When Alex asked her to grab dinner sometime, she hesitated as they lived three hours away from each other. Still, he mentioned he’d be skiing in Lincoln, NH with his cousin Lindsay, and Alejandra decided to take the chance and met them both for dinner! She met up with them after work one night and had so much fun that the nerves slowly faded away. From there, they leaned into the feeling, traded worry for excitement, and began a long list of epic adventures—plus plenty of driving—proving that three hours was a small price to pay for being together.

Alex had been casually asking Alejandra what kind of engagement ring she might want someday. True to her nature, she hadn’t given it much thought at first—but eventually she began looking into it. Alejandra went back and forth on styles, changing her mind more than once, figuring she had plenty of time. Not long after, they decided to use a travel voucher from a previously disrupted flight and take a three-day weekend trip to Florida. The trip was everything they hoped for: swimming with manatees, relaxing on the beach, enjoying great food, and simply soaking up time together. Alejandra wanted to take Alex out for his birthday, but he mentioned he had already made plans. After some playful prying, she discovered they were going on a sunset cruise. Being Alex and Alejandra—and having a little too much fun—they ran slightly behind schedule. With no idea how special the evening would become, Alejandra took a quick shower, threw on some makeup, and announced she was ready. Alex replied, “You’ve got time if you want to dry your hair.” They did not have time. Alex ran across the street to grab some Coronas, and soon they were on their way. They arrived at the boat, met the captain and crew member, and set sail. Alejandra was hoping to see dolphins, and before long, a group appeared swimming alongside the boat. The evening felt magical already. They chatted with the captain, enjoyed the breeze, and simply enjoyed being together. At one point, Alejandra went below deck to throw out an empty bottle, completely unaware that Alex was retrieving the ring. He played it off perfectly—she suspected nothing. When she returned, Alex asked if she wanted to sit at the front of the boat. She was thrilled. He suggested leaving their Coronas behind, which confused her, and she even asked the captain if it was okay to bring them along. The captain said yes… then quietly collected them just before the sail began to open. As the sail unfurled, the words appeared: “Will You Marry Me?” Alex dropped to one knee. It was one of the most beautiful moments of Alejandra’s life. She soon learned that the crew member was actually the photographer, capturing everything—some wonderful photos, some awkward ones, and some perfectly imperfect memories. The ring was slightly big, and she remembers holding onto it tightly. They celebrated with champagne and a sweet charcuterie board, laughing and savoring the moment. Alejandra even asked the captain for dinner recommendations for after the cruise. When they returned to the dock, Alex went to the bathroom while Alejandra stayed behind chatting with the captain. Suddenly, a horrifying realization hit her. The ring was gone. She quietly told the captain and anxiously waited for Alex to return. When she told him, he looked stressed—possibly more stressed than during the proposal—but calmly said, “It’s okay. We’re still getting married.” Armed with phone flashlights, the captain, Alex, and Alejandra began searching the dock, hoping for a miracle. And then—right in the middle of the dock—there it was. A beautiful, shining object reflecting back at them. They finally headed out to celebrate… only to find the restaurant closed. Undeterred, they found another spot, and the very first thing Alex did was track down some tape to secure the ring—just in case. And that was the night their forever began.