We’re tying the knot!

How Alicia remembers it: Kerry and I met at my friend’s college graduation party ALL the way back in 2011. It was MDW and all of us were hanging out drinking and playing lawn games all afternoon. My friend’s older brother and all of his friends showed up later that evening to join the party and in strolls Kerry with his Knicks jersey and cargo shorts. Safe to say I thought he was super cute and knew I had to figure out a way to talk to him. The drinks I’d had definitely helped me work up the courage to go over and asked him to be my beer pong partner (normally I’m a major chicken). Mid game I realized I had forgotten what his name was and when I asked my friend and she said “Kerry” I remember saying out loud for all (including Kerry) to hear how weird of a name that was. I felt bad about that the next morning! He asked for my number the next day, we went on our first official date that week at one of our now favorite Asian restaurants and the rest is history! How Kerry remembers it: The night we met was at my good friend Craig's house. His sister had just graduated college and they were hosting a party to celebrate. I immediately accepted for the free beer and food! The party was great and eventually lead to the usual keg lines and beer games. I found myself at the beer pong table but with no partner until this cute girl walks right up to me and asks, "Hey do you need a partner?" I remember introducing myself and she giggled and we began playing. Later on during the game I could hear her asking friends what my name was but she still couldn't believe it for some reason. I thought to myself she's funny and beautiful and is terrible at remembering names when she's drunk, I need to get her number before she leaves! Luckily I was blocking her car in the driveway and we had our first date a few days later.

It was late afternoon on Christmas Eve and Kerry and I were relaxing on the couch before heading to dinner at a new Italian restaurant we'd been wanting to try. Kerry mentions that his friend Andrew is hosting a little holiday party that night and asks me if we should stop by. He hosted a get together last year so I thought nothing of it and said we should go. Only a few of our close friends were at Andrew's, but it was a holiday so I didn’t think anything of it. We poured a few drinks, played a game of darts and just hung out for a bit. Later that night a Chris Stapleton song starts playing and none of our friends like country music so I thought that was a bit weird. Next thing I know a Morgan Wallen song is playing and I remember thinking "wow we must be converting our friends over to the country side, this is great!" Our friend Anthony can't stand country music, so I turned to tell him he's about to be outnumbered soon when I hear Kerry say “Anthony, hit me!” Something small and red goes flying over my head and I’m instantly like, “Oh my god! Oh my god! Is that what I think it is?!” I whip around to Kerry down on one knee and before he can even say anything I’m crying and asking him, “Oh my god is this actually happening?!?!” He laughs, asks me to marry him and the tears start flowing even more! I of course said yes and our friends start clapping and crying and popping open a bottle of champagne to celebrate. I was completely not expecting Kerry to pop the question that night but looking back on things, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way!