It was 2012 when Joey and Alicia first met in a coffee shop with their friends, who planned to start a band together. Joey played guitar and base; Alicia sang. They dreamed to play for the masses! Catholic masses, that is. Their friendship continued over the following summers, but never once did they have feelings for each other. In 2016, Joey and his brother moved to Dublin to do youth ministry, and Alicia studied abroad in Rome. Alicia visited them on a weekend excursion, relieved to see familiar faces on the other side of the world.

December 2017, Joey was back for Christmas break and his friend brought him to a NYE party in Seattle. Little did he know it was Alicia's party, and Alicia had no idea Joey was in town! It was an unexpected but happy reunion for the two. Alicia visited him before he returned to Ireland and they continued to text every day. One day, Joey called her and not even one minute passed on the phone before he said that he liked her. Alicia couldn't stop smiling, as she had just realized her own feelings as well. The timing couldn't have been more perfect! It was a few more months of regular phone calls and daily messages before Joey made the relationship official in March.

It was clear to Joey and Alicia that their relationship was headed towards marriage. In February, Joey asked Alicia's parents for her hand in marriage. Two months of preparation later, Joey secretly flew Alicia's twin sister, Miriam, to Seattle to kidnap and drive her to "the spot" one early Saturday morning. Alicia immediately knew what was going on (after a cup of coffee) but feigned ignorance all morning, partly for fear she was overthinking things. Meanwhile, Joey was scattering a rose petal path, setting up arches wrapped with flowers and tulle, and waiting for Alicia at the boat dock. As soon as Alicia crested the hill that overlooked the boat dock, the two of them seeing each other, both were overcome with anticipation. Alicia quickly made her way through the trail to the dock, where they exchanged a few words before he knelt down to say the famous words: "Will you marry me?"