Some love stories don’t start with grand gestures — they begin in the everyday, when two people unexpectedly find something special in the middle of ordinary life. For us, this story began at 17 and 18, at Whitman Hanson High School in the winter of 2015. We first crossed paths in culinary class, barely knowing each other’s names. Determined, Brian asked around to several friends for any type of information and eventually, a mutual friend passed along Alyssas Snapchat. In November of 2015, he sent her a message — and although we hadn’t really connected in class, Alyssa took a small leap of faith and two weeks later replied back to that snapchat after a little digging into who this cute guy was of course. From that moment on, something beautiful began to grow. There were shy glances exchanged during the school day, inside jokes, and late-night conversations that quickly became the highlight of our days. The connection came naturally — light, genuine, and full of possibility. We didn’t know exactly what it would become, but we both felt it deeply and were ready to follow wherever it led. Not long after, we went on our first official date: dinner at the 99. It was simple and sweet, filled with laughter, nerves, and that giddy feeling of something new. On January 11, 2016, Brian asked Alyssa to be his girlfriend. He was so nervous he could barely get the words out — but with a deep breath, he reached for her hand and gently flipped her Claddagh ring around to face inward, a small gesture that changed everything. Since then, our love has been one adventure after another. We’ve grown up together, traveled to new places, and built a relationship filled with laughter, trust, and so much love. Whether we’re off exploring or simply enjoying life’s everyday moments, being together has always felt like home. Then, on May 28, 2024, while on a family vacation in Aruba, Brian planned his biggest surprise yet. As the sun dipped low over the ocean, he led Alyssa down to the beach, where a heart had been carved into the sand — outlined in red roses and glowing with small candles. Off to the side stood a sign that read, “Marry Me.” With waves crashing softly behind us and the golden light wrapping everything in magic, he asked her to spend forever with him. And with a full heart, she exclaimed the happiest, easiest “YES.” What began with a Snapchat and a spark of curiosity has grown into something so much more — a love that’s steady, joyful, and deeply rooted in the little things. We feel so lucky to have found each other, and even luckier to be surrounded by the people who have loved and supported us through every chapter. We can’t wait to celebrate this next one with all of you — the friends and family who mean the world to us!