Connor and Alex’s story began in preschool, though their paths only crossed intermittently—Connor was an AM student and Alex was a PM student. Their connection was unmistakable beginning in elementary school, as they each harbored a crush on the other that lasted through the years. Their love story truly began in February of 2005 when Connor, a 5th grader, bravely delivered a Valentine’s bear, card and Romolo’s chocolates to Alex's doorstep. Alex found herself so nervous when her mom announced his arrival that she hid in the basement while her mom had to tell him she wasn’t home. Their romantic journey officially began when they started “dating” in 5th grade, continuing through 9th grade. Alex fondly remembers cozy moments like sitting on Connor’s lap in the hot tub at Splash Lagoon, sharing movie nights in friends’ basements, holding hands at Friday night football games, and sharing their first kiss the summer before high school. When Connor transferred to Cathedral Prep in Erie for junior year, they drifted apart and explored other relationships, though mutual friends often joked about their undeniable connection. Fast forward to Alex’s junior year of college at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. While at a Kenny Chesney tailgate with her roommates, Alex spotted Connor, who was in town with friends from Gannon University for the same concert. Their reunion sparked instant chemistry, leading them to abandon the concert for a night of bar hopping on Carson Street and a late-night stop at a Chinese restaurant for Wonton soup and fortune cookies. That night, Connor shared a photo of them in his family group chat with the caption, "the love of my life," marking the start of their renewed romance. One week later, Connor embarked on a summer cardiology internship in New Jersey, moving 6 hours away (which is ironic being that the two grew up just two miles apart). Despite the distance, he made the 12-hour round trip from Pittsburgh to New Jersey every weekend, with the exception of one. On one particular weekend, Alex joined him in New York City, where they had an unforgettable time. It was on a rooftop at Bar 54, overlooking the city skyline, that Connor asked Alex to be his girlfriend—a spot that would later become the venue for their engagement. After Connor graduated with his Bachelor’s degree, he moved down to Pittsburgh to be with Alex, where they settled into their first 600 sq. ft. apartment while she completed her graduate studies and he prepared for medical school. His pursuit to medical school then led the couple to Cleveland, where Connor attended Case Western University and Alex started her career as a pediatric occupational therapist. Their journey continued with the addition of their two beloved fur babies, Louie and Henry, buying their first home, and Connor beginning medical school at Northeast Ohio Medical University. During this time, they launched their business, We Rock the Spectrum–Cleveland, which expanded to include an outpatient therapy clinic and became one of only nine Regional Training Centers worldwide. Since then, they welcomed their third doodle, George, whom they found right on their street, celebrated Connor’s graduation from medical school, and purchased their second home to be closer to his orthopedic surgery residency program at Summa Health. Now, Alex and Connor are excited to finally celebrate their marriage surrounded by all their favorite people. Their journey together, filled with love, perseverance, and shared dreams, has led them to this momentous occasion, and they can’t wait to begin this new chapter as a married couple.

In January of this year, Connor told Alex he was taking her on a surprise trip for her 30th birthday. Although she had no idea where they were headed, he helped her pack and suggested clothes for the cold, so she knew it wouldn’t be a tropical beach vacation. When they arrived at the airport, she discovered they were going to NYC. While the destination should have made her wonder about a possible engagement, she had been expressing her desire to visit NYC, and with her parents on the other side of the country, she figured he wouldn’t propose without them there to celebrate. Once in the city, Alex enjoyed a magical trip filled with seeing The Lion King, dining at the famous Joe’s Pizza, shopping, and exploring. She was already having the time of her life, but she told Connor how much she wanted to revisit Bar 54, where he had asked her to be his girlfriend about eight years earlier. Little did she know, this was part of his plan. At Bar 54, after they had a drink, he suggested they take a picture outside. What started as a simple selfie quickly turned into the most heartfelt proposal. He got down on one knee, and with flashing lights around them, he delivered the sweetest speech. They were both in tears, overwhelmed by the moment. Their photographer then took them around Times Square for more photos, and Alex couldn’t wait to call her family. When they returned to the bar, Connor led her to a special setup in the back: photos, rose petals, roses, and even the teddy bear from her 5th grade Valentine, which he had somehow snuck into his luggage. At that point, Alex noticed their photographer seemed to be taking photos of other patrons at the bar, which struck her as odd and a bit rude. But then, as they continued walking, she saw them—her parents, his parents, and his brother, sister, and brother-in-law—pretending to browse the bar menu with their faces covered. The realization hit her, and she was overwhelmed with joy. It was truly a dream come true.