Alyssa and I both grew up in Folsom, CA; she always lived a short 5 minute drive down the street. My first memory of her was back in 6th grade at the Jr. Bulldogs picture day. Alyssa was a cheerleader, I was a football player. Our first class together in middle school was 6th grade PE and one thing I did right that year was ask her to be my dance partner. Funny thing is, we didn't start dating until 3 years later, but I always believed that helped me lock up my dream girl. Fast forward to 2009, Alyssa and I were friends, but had yet to start dating. Oh man, I had a huge crush on her. Then I found out from our mutual friend that she liked me too! I wasted no time. On the first Friday of high school, freshman year, I asked her to be my girlfriend in the middle of the quad and she said yes. The rest is history.

We were planning a vacation to New York City. I had never been before and Nick had told me so much about his trips there as a kid so I knew he was excited to return. I had spent countless hours researching things to do and places to eat in preparation for our trip. Little did I know, Nick was planning a lot more than just a trip to NYC. He was planning on the rest of our lives together. Halfway along the Brooklyn Bridge, he got down on one knee and I said ‘YES’ before he even asked the question.