We're getting married!

Alexis and Jerel met on the spirited campus of Binghamton University in 2010. Alexis was a freshman and Jerel was a sophomore. As fate would have it, they shared the same creative writing class and said not one word to each other... The bright-eyed, studious freshman she was, Alexis sat in the front of the classroom. Jerel sat in the very last row. He noticed Alexis from afar and thought she was pretty. However, a man of great will and fortitude, the fact that Alexis was pretty would not and did not overcome Jerel's desire to go undetected in class. But, alas, there was a frat party that would unite the two! Jerel introduced himself to Alexis and the two engaged in great conversation, the details of which neither of them seem to remember... It was a college party after-all. From then on, they saw each other in passing and the two began developing a friendship. It was finals week and they found each other both leaving Bartle Library for the night. Jerel offered to walk Alexis back to her dorm in CIW. They stood and talked outside her building for well over an hour about life, friends, and finals. Conversation came naturally, it was genuine, and became the foundation for something greater than the two could have imagined. Little did they know, however, they were not alone. There, a man, peering through a window curtain, staring at Alexis. She casually explained to Jerel that she had a stalker, but not to fear! He was a friendly stalker. In that moment, Jerel quickly learned the woman he was dealing with. The school year came and went and it was time to return home for the summer. The two wanted to keep their friendship going and Jerel asked Alexis to hang out over the summer. Coincidentally, the two both lived in Long Island, a whopping five minutes away from each other. As one could imagine, they hung out all the time. It was fate. It was summer love. That fall the two made it Facebook official. The rest is history...

Jerel asked Alexis to marry him in Bryant Park in Manhattan. It was December 1, 2018, just three days before their 9-year anniversary. He told her that for their anniversary he made plans for the two to tour NYC, go to the Empire State building, and sit for a nice steak dinner. They walked the streets of Manhattan and walked through the string-lit park hand in hand. They talked, enjoyed conversation as the two normally would. Little did Alexis know, Jerel was carrying with him a beautiful ring--a ring that was burning a hole in Jerel's jacket pocket. The suspense was killing him! Reaching the end of the park, Alexis was surprised to find her and Jerel's family standing at the end of the walkway. In the background played Jerel and Alexis' favorite song, "Why I Love You" by Major. Suddenly, it clicked. Alexis knew exactly what was happening and she bursted into tears. Jerel got down on one knee and asked the most important question Alexis would ever answer. She said yes. But the surprise wasn't over! Jerel led Alexis to believe their next destination would be a celebratory dinner with their families. They entered the Monarch Rooftop Lounge and took the elevator to the top floor. And amongst the darkness of the room before her, Alexis was surprised again to find her and Jerel's friends and loved ones from high school, college, law school, and both their families to celebrate this moment with them atop a beautiful rooftop in Manhattan. It was the first day of an amazing journey to marriage.