We’re getting married!

I was in the middle of a busy weekend—playing catch-up with work stuff, plus trying to learn my lines for a show I had the next month. My dear friend Kate Merrihew reached out to ask if I wanted to meet her at one of our local breweries for the afternoon, and I jumped at the chance to get out of the house. Over a shared beer flight, she asked about my love life. I think I responded, “What love life?” She then asked if I’ve ever tried a dating app. I said I had tried, but always got scared and never followed through with an actual date. She told me (read: DARED me) to download one again, right as we were sitting there, and just see what happens. “Just go on one actual date. If you don’t like it, you never have to do it again. But you never know until you try.” So I promised her I’d do it—just one date. The first guy that caught my eye was extremely cute and very my type: facial hair, heart melting smile, and even sported a cool tattoo in his main photo. When we matched, I remember actually gasping out loud. We chatted for the evening and part of the next day, I think, before making plans to meet up at McRay’s Tavern the next night. I purposefully got to the bar 30 minutes early and ordered a whiskey ginger ale to calm my nerves. When he walked in the door and headed for the bar, I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest. But when he got to me and said “Alyssa?” it was like all my nerves went away. We sat and talked for hours before realizing what time it was. It was like I’d known him for years. After we finished our last drink, he said, “I don’t want to stop talking to you.” And I agreed, so we took a walk around downtown Lawrenceville. There was never a lull, never an awkward moment. He held my hand with such confidence that it made me confident too. I thought to myself, “Wow, dating apps are easy. Went with the first guy, and I’m done!” I realized later just how incredibly lucky I was to have found him.

It was Super Bowl weekend. The Falcons (my adopted team due to proximity) were playing the Patriots (my favorite team). It was going to be a win win for me either way. Little did I know that by the end of the weekend it was going to be a win win win. I was sitting at the house I shared with two great friends and we were playing Xbox. I decided to hop on OkCupid and try my luck again to match with someone. The first girl that popped up on my screen was gorgeous. I swiped right and to my literal amazement the screen changed and said "You Matched." I looked through her bio and noticed that not only is she stunning but we share similar interests. So, I took my shot. "Hello gorgeous." That was my opening line and apparently it worked. She replied and we talked for a couple of days and we eventually exchanged numbers. I ask if she would like to go to grab drinks and to my surprise she actually said yes. We met on February 6th, 2017 at McCray's Tavern in Lawrenceville—and when I walked in and saw her sitting at the bar I knew she was going to be something special. We sat and talked for hours, her drinking whiskey gingers and I scotch. I'm sure I made some silly comment about how I could be her whiskey ginger. As we were getting ready to leave, I asked if she would like to walk around the square in downtown. I was so nervous as I reached for her hand but felt instantly at ease when she put her hand in mine. I knew I wanted to see her again and if memory serves I asked her to come over so I could cook for her on our second date.

We had been planning a trip to Walt Disney World basically since we met, and finally got to go for our 2 Year Anniversary. Disney has been my happy place since I was a little girl, and I couldn't wait to go with the man I love. Everyone pointed out to me that this was a huge deal--I had never brought a guy "home" before, as my sister put it. We planned out the whole weekend, deciding that we'd save Magic Kingdom (my favorite park) for our last full day. That morning, WDW was hosting one of their RunDisney marathons and getting to the park took forever. I was getting stressed about missing our first fastpass, but he squeezed my hand and said "We'll get there. It's going to be a great day." (Retrospectively, HOW was he the calm one in this?!) When we did make it to the park, I remember holding his hand as we walked down Main Street and feeling so happy and lucky. My worries melted away, just as it always had when I walked through those gates. We rode Big Thunder Mountain, one of my favorites, before heading to my other favorite--The Haunted Mansion. Here's where it gets good. Our Doom Buggy made its way into the ballroom and as we watched the dancing ghosts twirling around, he asked if we'd dance like that at our wedding. I giggled and said "Um, yes!" without taking my eyes off the ride. Then he said, "Does that mean you'll marry me?" which fully got my attention. I looked over and he had the ring in his hand and asked me again. I said yes through many tears, and then immediately asked if we were going to ride it again because paying attention was hopeless now. I didn't think my favorite place would get any more magical than it already was, but he made it happen. And he's been making every day magical since.

I told my family months before I popped the question that I was going to pop the question. When we actually started planning a Disney trip I decided that, despite the cliche, I wanted to propose there. So as we were planning we decided it would be a January trip, as it would be a perfect my birthday/our anniversary/Valentine's trip for us. (At this point I would like to give a huge thank you to Sam Weiller for his help with getting tickets, without his help this would not have been as magical as it was.) The whole time we were at Disney I was nervous. I knew I wanted to propose at Magic Kingdom because it is her favorite, but I also knew I didn't want to do what everyone else does and pop the question in front of Cinderella's castle. This left me with a dilemma. Should I do it on her favorite ride Big Thunder Mountain? Should I do it during the fireworks show? Ultimately I decided on the dark, spooky mansion in Liberty Square in front of 999 grim-grinning ghosts. If you have ever ridden the Haunted Mansion you will know that is is quite dark, so as we got onto our carriage I was frantically searching my backpack for the ring. Alyssa, already entranced in the ride, did not say anything to me about my fidgeting. I knew exactly where I was going to ask so as we entered the grand ballroom scene with all the dancing ghouls I looked over at her and asked, "Are we going to dance like that at our wedding?" She said “Of course”, not even noticing the open ring box I was holding. So I asked, "Does that mean you'll marry me?" That's when she noticed the ring. She said yes, and that's why you are reading this right now. I would like to leave you with what she said immediately after yes... "Well now we have to ride this again because I'm not even paying attention anymore." I love my Disney girl.

See you there!