We met in the beer garden at Alvarado Street Brewery in Monterey. It was happy hour time on a random Wednesday evening (we bonded over our love of happy hours later), and we were both hanging out separately with our own groups of friends. Ryan noticed that Allyson was the only girl in the garden drinking a dark beer, so naturally he positioned himself in a seat allowing him to look in her direction (basically stare at her). Allyson couldn't help but stare fiercely back at him. You could say the sparks were flying! Then, Allyson and her group of friends were leaving first, so she stood up, asked Ryan for a hug, slipped him her number and said, "We should hang out sometime." After that sometime we started hanging out A LOT... the rest has brought us all here today.

A few weeks prior to proposal day, Ryan asked Allyson if she wanted to have a dinner date night sometime around the third weekend of October. Allyson agreed and thought nothing more of it, other than where they might be eating. It wasn't uncommon for Ryan to keep the location of their destination a secret. Come October 16, they drove to Monterey and began walking to the downtown area. Ryan told Allyson he wanted to stop at "The Door," a spot near the Monterey Memory Gardens where the two each take a photo of each other every time they walk by. They arrived at The Door and per usual, Allyson took a photo of Ryan and Ryan took one of Allyson. He then walked up to her before she could move, grabbed her hands, and held her there. In a blacked-out state he said some words. The only thing they both remember was, "I love you so so much." Ryan then dropped to a knee and proposed. Allyson was shocked, she was overjoyed, and finally she said, "Yes!" After several embraces and kisses, Michael (the best man) popped out from behind a tree and informed them they had just been photographed (see below). April (bridesmaid) then came out from behind the the garden walls with a special surprise of champagne and Mr. & Mrs. flute glasses to drink from. After some family video calls, the four went for a quick glass of wine, as Ryan told Allyson she still had a dinner to attend with him. They drove just a few minutes down the street and Allyson walked into a surprise party with several of their closest friends and family... and they partied all night.