What can you really say about love stories? They're not all like the movies or happen along perfect timelines. But when we think about the thing that is our love, we have more fun talking about where we're going or what we'll do and who we'll do it with than those early days and weeks of romance. Because the truth is, the best has yet to come. But if you must know the origin story of the force of nature that we've become, it begins with friends - and that's probably not surprising to any of you reading this. Those friends, aside from The Big Man Upstairs, are the reason why we met at a Beerfest celebrating the West. Neither of us was looking for a relationship, in fact, we'd both given up on the prospect altogether. But that's when they say love strikes. And it did. The typical cat-and-mouse game ensued with Alex ignoring Ryan and Ryan using his incredible wit and charm to turn what Alex thought would be a terrible night, into one that would change the rest of our lives. Several beers and brewery stickers later, Alex remarked rather stealthily that Ryan should take her out sometime. Ryan cooly rose an eyebrow and agreed. He told her to name the place and time. She did. He said he'd see her there. She asked whether he wanted her number? Ryan refused by saying they'd do things the old-fashioned way. Their first date was at a gin bar on an empty stomach. They closed another bar down for the night and upon leaving each other for home, both knew they'd met their person. Four years and one day later they will wake up next to each other, married.