They met at Oz night club in 2010 where Chris was working behind the bar at the time. Ryan stopped him as he passed by to fill up the ice wells. "Why don't we hang after work?" Chris replied, "Gonna have to do better than that. Maybe another time." and Ryan replied, "Ok, I gotchu." Over the next three years friendships grew and Ryan would ask again and again. Chris' response would be the same and chuckle, but thinking maybe one day. That day came when Chris took a trip to the Bahamas. After talking to a person on the phone who told him he had credits left from a previous vacation, he thought what harm could it do? He didn't have money to purchase a timeshare so no money = no trap. Anyone who knows him can guess how this went. In all his brilliance he spent everything he had on this trip. No money = No trap. It was left up to him to schedule his own transportation, flights, and cruise departure and return dates. The people on the phone took care of lodging of course. So he called Ryan and asked him to drop him off at the airport terminal. After a hug goodbye he boarded the plane. Everything was great until the trip back. When scheduling flights he was only looking for the cheapest airfare out of Fort Lauderdale. Chris didn't pay attention to times and had scheduled his flight home to New Orleans to depart before the ship had docked at the port. A bit in a panic, and a dead iPhone he reached in his pocket to grab $20 he had left. He bought an $18 charger and called Ryan. With a broken voice he explained what had happened and without hesitation Ryan replied, "One sec. I gotchu." 30 minutes later Chris was on a flight back to New Orleans where Ryan was waiting and they haven't been apart since. Fast forward February 16, 2024, 11 years later, it was their anniversary weekend. Ryan was in Dallas for business. Not wanting to be apart, Ryan flew Chris out to Texas after work that Friday. It was the first time he flew alone since the Bahama trip. Chris, thought "O.K. I just have to make it to the ride share area and I'm set." Be that as it may, under the concrete garage pillars the service was spotty to nonexistent and the hour drive to the AirBNB wasn't the most appealing drive to an Uber driver. Between no service, Ubers dropping the fare, frustrated, feeling defeated, cold and tired Chris continued to attempt to book any ride share but only to be cancelled when they realized how far. Ryan finally called to check on him, and after explaining the situation he said, "One sec. I gotchu. Don't move." Five minutes later a car pulled up in front of him, "Chris? Going to meet Ryan right?" After awkward friendly conversation and going through what looked like "off road mudding trails" he arrived. Ryan greeted him to take his bags and walked him under an outdoor patio. Lit by hundreds of candles and a warm center fireplace there was a screen which read "Chris Will you marry me?" Ryan brought Chris to the middle of the area, got down on a knee where he presented him with the ring, "You've been my best friend for 11 years and I always want to be there for you. Will you marry me?" Chris said yes and here they are bringing their families and loved ones together in one place to meet each other. - We love each and every one of you. Thank you for your support and guidance through our lives. We are blessed to have such a loving and caring family and group of friends.- Love, Chris and Ryan