We're Getting Married!

Some love stories begin with a grand gesture or a dramatic twist of fate. Ours began with a dare — and a little bit of fate disguised as a night out with friends. It was an ordinary evening at Brickyard, a bar neither of us expected would change our lives. I was out with my girlfriends, playing the role of the responsible DD, while Alex was out with his crew, laughing and joking the night away. Somewhere between their laughter and a few too many drinks, his friends dared him to come talk to us. He accepted the challenge — and that one bold moment turned into something neither of us could have predicted. From the second we started talking, something clicked. The noise of the bar faded, and we were just two people caught in a conversation that felt surprisingly easy, like we’d known each other longer than a few minutes. I remember everything about that night — the jokes, the warmth, the way he made me feel like the only person in the room. As the night stretched into the early morning hours, Alex asked for my number. With very little faith that he'd actually use it, I typed it into his phone and labeled myself "Sarah From Bar." It was playful, but deep down I was already hoping I’d hear from him again. And I did. That text came. Then came the first date. And everything changed. Our first real conversation away from the noise of the bar felt like a breath of fresh air. I told him about my family, my faith, my roots — things that matter deeply to me — and without missing a beat, he smiled and said, “Oh, my mom is going to love you.” It was sweet, thoughtful, and it stopped me in my tracks. That one sentence stayed with me. It made me realize this wasn’t just fun — it was something real. In the weeks that followed, we fell for each other quickly but deeply. One night, somewhere between a late-night drive and a quiet moment, Alex looked at me and softly said, “I think I may be in love with you.” And I knew. I was too. For two and a half years, we grew together — through adventures, everyday moments, laughter, learning, and love. He became my best friend, my safe place, the person who makes me feel the most like myself. And then, on a rainy Friday in Downtown Mobile, he planned something special. It was pouring — the kind of rain that soaks you completely — but he didn’t care. Under gray skies, with his heart on his sleeve, Alex dropped to one knee and asked me to be his forever. I said yes through tears and raindrops, overwhelmed with joy, gratitude, and love. That day, like so many others in our story, wasn’t perfect — but it was perfectly us. We can’t wait to take the next step in this beautiful life we’ve built together. And we’re so grateful to have the people we love by our side as we say “I do.”