Our story began in the fall of 2022, when Alex was reluctant to be featured on an Instagram matchmaker series that a friend had put together. After some internal back and forth, he decided to give it a shot. Cassie, who was also friends with this matchmaker, noticed Alex’s profile and casually sent a friend request. Not thinking anything would come out of it, Alex saw Cassie’s friend request and was immediately intrigued. He reached out to her, assuming she lived in Orlando, and suggested they meet up. When he found out she was actually in Tampa, Alex quickly found any excuse to visit. After their first date at Bar Taco in Hyde Park, their connection was undeniable. What followed were football games, concerts, and many more memorable dates. After a year of long-distance dating, Cassie moved to Orlando to take their relationship to the next level. But just a few months later, Alex had an unexpected health complication. Together, they faced this challenge head-on. Despite the anxiety and stress that this situation produced, Alex and Cassie leaned on God and each other and watched their relationship deepen. After receiving a clean bill of health in March of 2024, Alex proposed that December, surprising Cassie with friends, family, and a ring he had been saving for since his recovery. We are so excited to begin this next chapter together and we can’t wait to celebrate with all of you in October! With love, Cassie + Alex