Their story began, as many do these days, with a swipe right on the dating app Bumble. After some playful football banter, they planned their first video chat. Well, sort of! Cooney accidentally fell asleep before their scheduled time, leading to a very apologetic message the next morning. (Despite his message, he now admits that he was pretty confident she’d give him another shot.) He was right; Alicia (reluctantly!) agreed to reschedule. Good thing she did, because that second call turned into hours of deep conversation about their family dynamics, values, and future goals. Their first in-person date had its own memorable moments. It started with a classic "her being late, him being on time" scenario. While Cooney waited, all he could think about was how Alicia would respond once she finally arrived. As he had hoped, she was extremely apologetic. Despite her 30-minute delay, he smoothly adjusted his plans and took her to his favorite lounge. Cooney had already eaten, so he charmingly watched Alicia devour a whole fish—no shyness there! Cooney then took her dancing, and in a truly romantic move, he bought her flowers right on the dance floor. This romantic gesture was not a one-time act; Cooney’s consistent romantic ways never wavered in the days and months that followed. Throughout Alicia and Cooney’s courtship, their intentionality, patience, grace, and open communication became the cornerstones of their growing love. The rest, as they say, is history. They’re so excited to start their next chapter with all of you by their side!