We officially matched on Tinder in June of 2019, which just proves that sometimes the algorithm really does know what it’s doing. Our first official date didn’t happen until January 2020—dinner and a movie—right before the world decided to shut down. While the pandemic pushed most people apart, it somehow pulled us closer together. What started as casual FaceTime calls quickly turned into 24-hour conversations, nonstop texting, and three straight months of basically living on the phone together. In a time filled with uncertainty, we found comfort in each other. Somewhere between the chaos and constant connection, we realized this was something real. As time went on, we learned fate had been working overtime. We discovered we had been at the same events all around Connecticut—sometimes towns apart, sometimes hours apart—without ever meeting. Same places, same people, just different timing. It felt like our paths had been crossing for years, patiently waiting for the right moment. When the world finally started to reopen, our long-awaited reunion happened in the most 2020 way possible—meeting in a parking lot at a local park. From that moment on, we’ve been inseparable. Our days quickly filled with cheering on UConn in Storrs, playing pickleball, going to concerts (Luke Combs being the favorite), and countless movie nights at Cinemark. After almost four years of dating, Alex popped the question on August 30, 2024, at Ocean’s Edge Resort & Golf Club on Cape Cod—our favorite vacation spot and a place we return to every summer with family and friends. Cape Cod has always been where time slows down for us, where some of our favorite memories were made, and where we’ve shared countless laughs, quiet moments, and everything in between. Choosing to get engaged there made the moment feel even more meaningful and deeply personal. The plan was thoughtful and romantic—but true to us, it didn’t come without a little chaos. Alicia refused to go anywhere without her favorite drink, Dr. Pepper, so a last-minute Stop & Shop run became part of the story. When we finally returned to the room, it had been beautifully decorated by Alex’s parents, who were quietly hiding in the room next door. Surrounded by so much love and intention, Alex asked Alicia to marry him—turning one of our favorite places into a memory we’ll carry forever. After nearly six years together, we’re beyond excited to take the next step toward our forever—continuing our shared love for travel that began with our first Disney trip, and looking forward to wherever the next adventure takes us.