Hey everyone, it's Lex! Picture this: March 5, 1997, the Big Apple welcomes a feisty Pisces! Childhood? Oh, it was a whirlwind of mischief and dreams, fueled by the love of my amazing parents, Marti and Armand, and my older sister, Morgan. When I grew up and college life called, I ditched the cozy Hudson Valley for UC Berkeley's endless playground. Post-grad, I landed in San Francisco, living with my cousin Jess and her husband, Pavel, all while juggling EMT life and pondering my next big move and possible world domination. Then, January 14th, 2019 marked the start of Peace Corps Ghana, but it was January 16th that changed everything. Enter Liz, rocking that orange floral dress and a piercing smile that could light up any room. Sure, my first question was a bit forward, but hey, it sparked something special (feel free to ask me about it next time you see me). Fast forward to today, and we're getting ready to say 'I do.' Who knew a simple dinner chat could lead to happily ever after?

Hey friends and family! As many of you know and some of you are about to find out, I was born on May 3, 1996, in a town called Mars, PA. Mars is a great place to grow up; it has a UFO in the town square and a yearly festival called Applefest! As a kid, I was a handful, plain and simple (sorry Mom and Dad). I had a childhood filled with love from my wonderful parents, Barb and Ron, and fun and shenanigans with my older brother, Ronnie. Shout out to my favorite furry friend, Hercules, who I grew up with. Shitzus are still my favorite dog breed to this day! When it was time to go to college, I headed to Penn State and dove into football games and lifelong friendships (love all of you!). After graduating, I felt the pull to explore beyond America's borders - I had never been abroad before! I joined Peace Corps Ghana as a health educator, moving to the Volta region. That's where I met Lex - her shaved head and tendency to doze off in class didn't exactly impress me at first. Little did I know, she'd worm her way into my heart and now I can't wait to say "I do!"

Their story began with initially clicking over Avatar: The Last Airbender. Lex wanted to watch it, and Liz had it on her hard drive. They ended up spending hot nights in Ghana together, binging the show and bonding over its epicness. (Everyone, go watch or rewatch it in the name of love!) As they grew closer through laptop anime sessions and games of Phase 10, they started catching feelings for each other. Liz, known for her love of sleep, surprised Lex one midnight to ask her out. To Liz's delight, Lex rolled over and said yes! Liz and Lex dated for six months in Ghana, texting non-stop and traveling to see each other whenever possible. Highlights included visiting each other's communities, hiking waterfalls in Hohoe, and cuddling local goats. They made lifelong friends along the way (we love you Matt!) and fell deeper in love. When the pandemic hit and they left Ghana with their cat, Wada, Liz stayed with Lex's family for three months, experiencing their open, loving, and generous nature (thank you, Armand and Marti - from Liz!). After some much-needed R&R, Liz and Lex embarked on a three-month road trip across America in Liz's car, Stella. And who could forget the head on their dashboard, Charles?! (see the photo gallery for pics of Charles in action). From coast to coast, they white-water rafted, jumped off bridges, and hiked their butts off! They realized that if they could survive sleeping in a car together for multiple nights in a row without murdering each other (or being murdered), they could probably make it long-term. So, they decided to move to San Francisco together and live with Lex's cousin Jess, her husband Pavel, and eventually little Viktor! They all made incredible memories together, traveling to Tahoe and abroad, biking around Golden Gate, indulging in way too much dessert, and meeting and loving Viktor. The most recent chapters have shown them that together, they can celebrate their highs, navigate their lows, and support each other through it all! Thank you for coming to celebrate Liz and Lex's love, it truly means the world!

Lex's Proposal: Liz made it clear - I was to propose first since she asked me out and said "I love you" first. Liz and I visited Glacier National Park in 2020, and I'll never forget looking at Bowman Lake and turning to Liz, seeing her tearing up. She turned to me and said, "Isn't it just so perfect?" I fell deeper in love with her and knew from this, that a stunning view or a national park, or maybe both would one day be where I proposed. Ultimately, I landed on 2-3-23 and Yosemite Valley as the perfect day and backdrop for the moment. I presented a stunning stained glass ring box made by Terri, Liz's stepmom and a talented stained glass artist, which is featured in a picture at the top of the website. It has a sun, reflecting Liz's nickname for me, 'sunshine,' and a serene blue sky symbolizing our limitless future together. Surrounded by nature's beauty, I asked Liz to spend forever with me. Liz's Proposal: I've always known that my partner is an adrenaline junkie, a bougie food addict, and obsessed with special dates. Knowing this, I pulled out all of the stops for my proposal. I decided on skydiving, followed by an epic 3-star Michelin meal at Benu, all on 11-11-23. When we arrived at the skydiving location, Lex assumed she was the only one jumping, as I'm afraid of heights. Little did she know, I had a surprise in store—I jumped out of the plane first! After a heart-pounding freefall, Lex safely landed on the ground, and that's when I popped the question, catching her completely off guard. It was a day filled with adrenaline, surprises, and ultimately, love.