We can't wait to celebrate with you!

We met at Southeastern University in 2014. Alyssa and I were both on student leadership together, so we had plenty of time to get to know each other. It started with Palace Pizza every now and then, late night projects, and long event days. One semester led to another and soon we were going to Sadie's Hawkins dances together and I had tickets to every performance she was in at school. We both liked each other, but I was the worst with commitment and never let our relationship grow any further. One day, before our last year at Southeastern Alyssa told me that our senior year was coming up and that means it may be the last year we knew each other for the rest of our lives. *cue deep thoughts about my future and reflections about my feelings that I try to never bring up* That was it! I decided that I couldn't go the rest of my life without knowing if Alyssa was the one for me. Two weeks later we went on our first official date, and started on what is soon to become... the adventure of a lifetime!

After about 3 months of dating I knew Alyssa was THE ONE! Alyssa probably doesn't believe that, but just ask my groomsmen Zach and Danny about how sure I was that Alyssa was the one the night I told them at dinner. The proposal was the performance of a lifetime, and took coordination from four different parties involved! Shoutout to mine and Alyssa's parents, her Maid of Honor, both of our families, and the entire Admission Team at SEU. I decided that proposing at the coffee shop that we had our first date would be romantic, and a surprise celebration with both our families after would be epic! After picking up the ring from my parents (thanks Mom and Dad for helping with that secret) I called the coffee shop and made sure a table would be reserved; I then reserved a table at the restaurant where we would be celebrating. The issue I encountered was Alyssa... she's sharp and would read my plans like a book if they weren't hidden. What Alyssa didn't know was that I had the element of surprise on my side. The proposal would take place two days before graduation. A perfect time. Both our families would be in town, and since she would be leaving to celebrate her graduation the next week, that night would be the last night we would have alone together. Alyssa agreed that one night together to celebrate us was a good idea. I then needed a way to SOMEHOW convince her to agree to go to the coffee shop before dinner. That's where the admission department would come in. Fast forward to the night of the proposal, everything was set. The Maid of Honor was communicating with both families to meet at the restaurant, while I picked up Alyssa and waited for a fake phone call from my co-workers (thanks, Allie!). The phone call came and Alyssa was there while I convinced the "restaurant" that our reservation should be moved not cancelled. From there I convinced Alyssa that we should get coffee since we were early, and soon after I was asking the girl of my dreams to marry me. Success!

Exactly two years after our first date we will be getting married, despite telling Alyssa for the past 4 years that I didn't believe in marriage. Our story will continue, and we can't wait to celebrate with all of you!