The first night Marshall and Alex met, there was already magic in the air. Alex was visiting Miami for New Years Eve and falling in love with the city by the second. What wasn't there to love about 75 degree beach days in December? The two both had plans to meet the same group of fellow UNC friends at a beautiful hotel party on the bay to ring in the New Year that night. Everyone was looking their best and the champagne was flowing, when Marshall spotted Alex at the party. He asked their mutual friend, Ruthie, if Alex was seeing anyone, and when the answer was no, he immediately asked Alex if he could buy her a drink (the perfect pick up line for an open-bar party...). From the moment they began talking, they were inseparable for the rest of the night, dancing away and enjoying each other's company way more than either of them could have expected. When midnight hit, Marshall and Alex shared their first kiss and watched the fireworks over the bay. It was truly a night to remember and one that left an undeniable mark on them both.

Alex was still living in Atlanta at the time but very determined to move to Miami. Marshall kept his hopes up, but they remained friends while Alex threw all of her efforts into finding a path to the Magic City. After 7 grueling months, the tides turned and Alex landed a new role at her company that agreed to support her move south. She was so excited for this new chapter and looked forward to building her life in Miami. She knew she liked Marshall but told herself she would take it easy, get her bearings and focus on making friends and new connections.

Alex officially moved in August 2017, got settled, started her new job, and finished August strong with an epic girl's trip to Chile at the end of the month. Marshall had similar plans, jet-setting off to Ibiza for a boys trip at the same time. Despite both of their intentions at this point, the two were already inseparable but agreed to just have fun and not take anything seriously until they both returned from their trips. Little did they expect, the universe decided to throw a curveball and they both came home to Category 5 Hurricane Irma, headed directly their way. Marshall took this as his chance, and asked Alex (who had never had to run from a hurricane before) if she wanted to evacuate together. The two spent the next week and a half in Tampa, playing weather-related hooky and having a blast. They came home "official" and completely head over heels for each other.

Alex and Marshall remained smitten and moved their relationship to Miami Beach. They bonded over their mutual love for the area, feeling happy, settled and overall really blessed. They love trying new restaurants, hitting a local workout class, and dancing the night away to their favorite DJs. They'll tell you that getting coffee and going on long beach walks every Saturday is truly one of their favorite things to do. Over the pandemic, they took refuge in slowing down, paddle-boarding on the bay, and just enjoying the extra time they were able to spend together, bringing them even closer than before.

Due to the pandemic, Marshall and Alex's trip to Switzerland in the summer of 2020 was cancelled. Fast forward a year later (and multiple hours on the phone with airline and hotel agents), they landed on a new route and thus their trip to Greece was booked. Marshall knew this was where he was going to pop the question (as the ring had been hidden safely on stand by for a few months just waiting for the stars to align). After securing (and insuring) the ring, he packed it away tightly in his backpack which he only checked 300 times during the flight across the pond. Immediately upon landing in Santorini, Marshall and Alex knew this was one of the most beautiful places they had ever been, and Marshall was getting nervous, but excited, but mostly nervous. They spent the first day visiting wineries, taking in the jaw-dropping views while exploring the beautiful island, and indulging in the fresh seafood as Marshall mentally prepared himself for the following night. Marshall and Alex spent the next day taking it easy, relaxing by the pool at their cliffside hotel. Marshall had everything mapped out for the big evening, but that still didn't calm his nerves. A taxi came to take them to the village of Imerovigli, where he told Alex they had dinner reservations at a beautiful restaurant. When they arrived, Marshall led Alex through the village and down a long set of stairs (credit to Alex with the shoes she had on) to a stunning lookout point over the caldera where he popped the question... and she said YES! They spent the rest of sunset walking through the streets of Imerovigli with a local photographer, capturing every joyous moment. They finished the night with celebratory champagne and a lovely meal at the restaurant and enjoyed the rest of an unforgettable evening. Later in the week, the beach clubs were calling as they ventured over to Mykonos and continued the celebrations with some friends. It was the perfect way to end a trip of a lifetime.