Picture it--Brooklyn, 2013. Ben had just moved to Brooklyn after long stints in Vegas and New Orleans. It was the night of Fat Tuesday, and Ben was feeling homesick for New Orleans. To cheer himself up, he headed out to his neighborhood bar, The Way Station, which was throwing a Mardi Gras party. That same night, Allie was at The Way Station with a friend, hoping to see a band she liked. But she had gotten the dates mixed up (whoops!), and found herself at the Mardi Gras party instead. Partway through the evening, Allie saw this devilishly handsome man in the bar with his hair pomped for the gods. They locked eyes and smiled. Allie turned to her friend and said, "That guy has REALLY great hair." Her friend replied, "You should go tell him that." Later that evening, Ben was waiting in line for the powder room. Allie saw her chance, pretended she needed to use the bathroom, and jumped in line behind him. "I hope you don't mind me saying so," she said to the handsome stranger, "but your hair is fantastic." It didn't take long for Allie to learn that Ben was charming and witty as well as good-looking, and she was immediately smitten. (Of course, it was a little awkward when Ben got to the front of the bathroom line and offered to let Allie go first, compelling her to stand in the bathroom doing nothing for a few minutes so he wouldn't suspect that she'd gotten in line just to talk to him.) Ben and Allie began dating immediately after that night. And here we are, more than eight years later!

Picture it--Portland, 2020. The holidays were approaching. Ben suggested that, since they hadn't had a chance to travel all year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they should take a little trip up the Columbia River Gorge between Christmas and New Year's. Eager for a change of scenery, Allie loved the idea. Wanting to keep the details a surprise, Ben booked a swank little private cabin surrounded by the wooded beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Allie entered the cabin to find a gorgeous bouquet of roses right near the cozy fireplace. Putting on some Lena Horne, Ben broke out the oysters and champagne. Allie, feeling completely at ease and deliriously happy, felt compelled to tell Ben how profoundly happy he'd made her throughout their eight years together, how she was prepared to grow old with him, and how lucky she felt to have found him that night at The Way Station. Seizing the moment, dropped to one knee, pulled out a beautiful ruby ring, and asked Allie to be his wife. (Allie said yes through ecstatic tears.)