Ali and Drake met at Maryville University, first by running into each other at campus gatherings and later in study groups at Bread Co. Eventually, they found each other hanging out with dear friends over buckets of beer following hockey practices, hiking for miles in St. Louis parks and spending weekends at Table Rock Lake. On May 6, 2017, Drake and Ali officially initiated a “game-changing” relationship and during the journey all sorts of similarities unraveled: As little ones they were both known as shy, gentle, humble and kind… with very early beginnings in sports. They grew into compassionate and trustworthy kids who were known as good friends and teammates… with a competitive but considerate spirit, learning to win like they’d won before and lose like they’d lost before. As time went by, each of them became passionate about pursuing careers in the medical field… Ali as a pediatric nurse and Drake as a physical therapist specializing in sports. And in this chapter, they found each other… Drake liked Ali’s taste in beer; Ali liked Drake's smile. As their love story continues to unfold, they’ve each found a soulmate with a big heart who is not only genuine and humble, but cute and lovable, too. Now, Ali and Drake are leaning-in to what adolescence taught them, not only by becoming devoted teammates but also loving-in to each other as husband and wife, as best described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-6: Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. On September 17, 2022, they can’t wait to celebrate their love for each other with you, their closest family and friends.

Table Rock Lake is their happy place. Top of the Rock isn't too bad either. So on a dreamy evening in September, surrounded by their family, Drake asked Ali to marry him overlooking a scene from a postcard, a beautiful sunset and a canon going off in the background. With a shaky hand, Drake "put a ring on it" that was truly top of the rock... pun intended. They've been dreaming of sharing their special day with you ever since... And now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)