We're Getting Married!

Our story begins at a party during our freshman year at Penn State. Alyssa was enjoying the party with her roommate when Chris and his friends approached to strike up a conversation. After talking for a while it was clear there was some chemistry. But at the end of the night… Chris ended up asking for Alyssa’s roommate’s number! Though that didn't go as planned, life went on, and the memory faded. Fast forward to junior year when a friend showed Alyssa a photo of someone he knew from class. In a twist of fate, that someone was Chris! After sliding into some DMs, we met a couple days later to grab coffee, and it wasn’t long before we became official. Our relationship deepened during senior year. When COVID-19 effectively shut campus down, Alyssa's roommates went home, and Chris (seeking refuge from his not-so-COVID-safe frat house) moved into Alyssa's apartment. We helped keep each other sane during those last few months of school and even graduated together… virtually while sitting on the sofa in Alyssa’s apartment. After graduation, Chris stayed at Penn State to finish his master’s degree in engineering science and mechanics. Meanwhile, Alyssa searched for a job in her field of geology. In August, Alyssa landed a job in Pittsburgh and moved just a few short weeks later to start her career. Over the next year, we took turns making the three-hour drive (or six hours in a snowstorm!) to visit each other every other weekend. Chris often brought his laptop to do homework and attend class, just to spend an extra day or two with Alyssa and her new cat, Jinx. After a year of long distance, Chris graduated and joined Alyssa in Pittsburgh, and we upgraded to a two-bedroom apartment. We even added a second cat, Sunny, to our growing family. The following few years brought a mix of new life experiences. We traveled, explored our new city, celebrated friends’ weddings, and supported each other through loss, including the sudden loss of our beloved cat Sunny. Through each new experience, both good and bad, we supported each other and our relationship only grew stronger. In July 2023, Chris got down on one knee while on a family vacation in Iceland and by March 2024, we bought our first house in Pittsburgh! We even welcomed a new cat to our house, Pudge, who has since become fast friends with Jinx. We are so excited to share this day with those who have been a part of our journey, and we are looking forward to embarking on this next chapter as husband and wife!