I'm sure you've heard this story from your grandma and grandpa. That they met before grandpa had to ship out, and grandma wasn't so sure if she would ever see him again. This classic tale may have been told time and time again.....but here's our version: Thad and Alex have both enjoyed Englewood beach since they were children. Brian and Gina used to bring Alex to the Englewood swingset as a girl, and Thad's family has a beach house just a half a block away. However, as far as anyone can tell, they never crossed paths until a fateful day 6 years ago. It was labor day weekend, Thad was enjoying one last trip to Cape Cod before being deployed with the Army, and Alex was visiting her friend Anna, whose family lived on the very same street. The first time they ever saw eachother was at the one and only Englewood Beach they had both been going to since they were children. When they first met Thad remember's saying to himself "if I just had a shot with her". He told Alex he was leaving with the army, and asked her if she would promise him a date when he returned. She laughed, agreeing, secretly thinking that a handsome guy like Thad would surely forget all about this interaction in a years time. But, luckily Thad never forgot about Alex. During that year he thought about her, coming home, and going on that date he was promised.

As soon as he headed for home Thad reached back out to that girl on the beach he had been thinking of. A lot had happened in a year. Through many messages exchanged Alex told him all about her graduation trip across the country, her new job as a nurse that she had started just a few days ago, and her new apartment in mission hill with 5 roommates and an angry cat. She mentioned the old, broken couch that they inherited when they moved in. Being that she had yet to receive a paycheck yet, she was trying her best to fix it, but unfortunately had borrowed the wrong tools from her parents. Thad, unable to resist fixing something, (and looking for an opportunity to ask about that date he had been promised) offered his handyman services, tools and all. While the offer was temping, Alex wasn't 100% sure just yet. She asked her roommate Jenn if she should invite the handsome stranger from the beach to help. Jenn replied "We really need that couch fixed, just have him fix it and then tell him to go". Luckily Alex only listened to half of Jenn's advice. Thad came over ready with his tools and they worked together to get it back in working order. They had such a good time working together they decided to spend the rest of the evening having dinner together at the nearby Mission Bar and Grille, and seeing one of their favorite movies, Rocky Horror Picture Show. From then on, Thad and Alex kept fixing things together.

After a few months of dating, Thad took Alex back to the place where it all started, Cape Cod. It was a beautiful night, just like the one they met. Thad told Alex he wanted to take her to one of his favorite spots. At seagull beach, as the waves crashed over the shore in the moonlight Thad and Alex climbed into the great big lifeguard tower. Thad said it reminded him of a song. With his cell phone he started playing "Dancing in the moonlight", and asked Alex for a dance in the lifeguard tower. As he spun her around on the small wooden floor, Alex knew she was really in love. Alex and Thad will be dancing the first dance at their wedding to King Harvest's "Dancing in the Moonlight"

Growing up Thad and Alex both watched a lot of Disney movies; Alex always dreamed of meeting a brave knight or a prince just like in Ella Enchanted. And although he may deny it, Thad knows every word of "The Little Mermaid" thanks to his two little sisters. After celebrating several infamous Halloween and New Years party with the help of friends and family, they got the idea to plan a most enchanted evening: A New Year's eve Masquerade Ball. Without the help of elves or woodland creatures, the whole family spent months working hard planning and transforming McKeons basement into an Enchanted Forest straight out of a fairtytale. With friends and family dressed in their finest gowns and tuxedos, they gathered around just before the party started for a very special announcement. As Alex walked past the sparking Christmas tree and into the foyer, rose petals rained from above. Thad got down on one knee and asked her a question. She said "yes"! Friends and family celebrated the new year and the newly engaged couple in style. Thad and Alex felt like the belle of the ball. And they all lived......Happily Ever After.