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In 2007 we met at Bick's Driving School in Lebanon, Ohio. I was a sophomore and Alex was a junior at Fenwick High School, but we had never met. We bonded over free doughnuts and relentlessly trying to make the other laugh. We dated through high school and attended many awkward school dances together. He sat through countless cheerleading and softball games, and I spent endless hours watching him play drums and skateboard. Our favorite thing to do was ride his 4 wheeler around his parents yard, spend the afternoons swimming in the pool, and the evenings trying to sneak beer wherever we were. After high school we both attended Ohio University, for it's outstanding academics of course. There we created a family with our friends and of course our pup Mac Dog, who is the real star of this relationship and wedding. You think we're kidding but just wait. Alex graduated spring 2013 with his Bachelors degree in Communication Science with a major in Video Production. He quickly received an internship in LA and was off! Eager to join him, I was able to graduate early (and because I am crazy smart) with my Bachelors in Human and Consumer Sciences in December, 2013. January 2nd, 2014 I moved out to LA with three extra large suitcases and Mac Dog. That's when our real adventure began! We have been very happily living together in Los Angeles for the past 4 and a half years. Over the past four years we have made great friends, bought a townhouse, acquired two ginormous cats, traveled all over the coast and the west, and most importantly, got engaged!

We first visited Santa Barbara for Labor Day weekend, 2016 with my dad Joe, and step mother, Beth. We fell in love with the peace and serenity of the quaint, yet lively, beach town. The hundreds of wineries didn't hurt either. The next weekend was Alex's birthday and he requested that we go out of town for the weekend. He insisted to plan the weekend, but since it was for his birthday I demanded that I plan it. We went to a beachfront hotel south of LA. We had massages, relaxed by the pool in snugly robes, and sipped champagne. We joked about getting married on our 10 year anniversary (11.04.17). I said if we were going to be able to do it by then we would have to get engaged very soon. He said "how soon" and I jokingly answered "this weekend". Later before dinner, Alex nervously sat waiting for me to get ready. We went to the bar to have a cocktail before heading across the street for dinner at The Chart House, which overlooked the ocean. At the hotel several weddings were going on, so marriage was a big conversation topic of the night. We then went and had a wonderful dinner over the water and reminisced about our past, dreamed about our future, and of course drank wine. After dinner we trespassed on the restaurant's private beach, and walked down to the ocean. The sun was setting and the sky was glowing with beautiful pink and purple hues. I joked that now would be a great time for him to propose, yes I know I really need to learn to just be quiet. He asked that I close my eyes, then after what felt like an hour later, he asked me to open my eyes. He was kneeling before me with a beautiful ring in hand. I quickly became hysterical and couldn't stop asking "really?!" Then of course I said yes! I was completely surprised! We laughed and cried for the next 20 minutes. We decided Santa Barbara was so special that we wanted it to hold a place in our hearts forever. We are over joyed and beyond excited to have everyone join us there for our wedding this May!