We met freshman year at West Virginia University in 2016, and what started as a simple introduction turned into a genuine friendship. By December 2017, that friendship had grown into something real. While Abby was still in college, we spent three years doing long distance, learning how to grow together even when we weren’t in the same place. In 2020, Abby came to Annapolis to visit Alex for what was supposed to be a one-week spring break. That trip was extended to two weeks due to COVID—and when the rest of the school year was canceled, she never really left. What started as a visit quietly became something permanent, and Annapolis has been home ever since. In September 2025, Alex proposed in the Outer Banks on a catamaran at sunset, with our families there to celebrate with us. It was simple, meaningful, and an easy yes. The Outer Banks has become a special place for us, which made it the perfect place to get married, too.