It was just another conference, or so we thought. Our story began on February 25th, 2021 in Clearwater Beach, Florida. As the conference speaker, I (Diana) spent my morning practicing my speech, calming my nerves, and putting on my best lipstick. Tyler was also calming his nerves, except with a Jack and Coke and in the shoes of an attendee. Little did he know, he'd be watching his future wife on that conference stage a few hours later. When I arrived to the event, I remember being in a little shock. "Fun, a predominantly male conference!" You see, I wasn't supposed to attend this conference. My boss called me just weeks before the event to ask me to sub-in for him. I was his only trusted speaker on behalf of the company, so of course, I said yes. I quickly put away the discomfort and put on a smile. Side note: I had someone tell me I had spinach in my teeth from my b-fast that morning, another detail I'll never forget from this day lol. (This was after I had already greeted several people, including the founder of the company putting on the event!) But the spinach in my teeth wasn't the most memorable part of my day. Nope. It started with a bald head. As I scanned the conference room, I looked past several older men, none who caught my eye of course. But then I landed on a shiny bald head. I didn't know it yet, but it was Tyler's. I remember thinking "Oh, a young one! He's cute!" I remember Tyler being a focal spot for me as I spoke from the stage. As a speaker, you mentally choose a few standout faces in your audience and look to them as you oscillate from the stage. Tyler was one of those faces. I ended my speech and took my seat. A few hours later, after having sat through a few other presentations, the event was finally over. "Yes!" I thought. "I can't wait to go back to my hotel room, order pizza, and watch Netflix. Oh, and kick these heels off!" As I made my way to the exit door, there he was. That cute bald guy from the audience, holding the door for me at just the most perfect timing. (P.S. Tyler later told me he ran to hold that door so quickly!) "Hey! You did a great job up there!" he said. I remember my cheeks getting so rosy. We conversed for about 20 seconds before he asked me "are you headed out for the dinner event tonight?" The conference was putting on an end of night dinner at the Marina Cantina rooftop in Clearwater Beach. I had zero plans to go after a long day at an event I wasn't even supposed to be at, but there was one key word that came out of Tyler's mouth that completely swayed me. There'll be "margaritas"...I was sold! I went back to my room, freshened up, and called my girlfriend. "Should I go?" She proceeded to tell me "you better!" because rather than entertaining a fling, I was the type of girl who worked all the time and focused on herself. It was high time I made time for a little love. :) When I arrived to the event, Tyler wasn't there yet. I ordered a vodka soda with a splash of pineapple, because carbs. I was immediately approached by all the other conference attendees complimenting me on my performance that day. I was so checked out mentally because all I really wanted was to see Tyler again. And then there he was. And all I could do was smile..big. Tyler and I talked all night long. We shacked up in the corner of the rooftop, ate dinner together, and couldn't take our eyes off one another. This was super unlike me to do—I have always been afraid of losing respect as a career woman by "letting loose", and flirting with a male colleague all night certainly didn't send the best message. But I didn't care. We were intoxicated by each other's presence, and it was beautiful! Tyler and I left the party after it ended and instead of joining the group to go to a cigar bar, we spent the evening on the beach, under the full moon, with champagne and strawberries. We literally couldn't stop talking. It was the most magical night of our lives...at least, until we got engaged. :)