we're getting married!

It's 2020, *shudder*. Alyssa was in San Francisco, CA, and Alex was in Chicago, IL. Alyssa was planning to visit her friend in Chicago for Fourth of July. She was hanging out with another friend a month prior and her friend sneakily changed her Hinge dating app setting to Chicago. Shoutout Orly! Enter Alex. After a one-liner for the ages (he won't let me insert it here but feel free to ask), they chatted a little until it came time for the very deep question, "what neighborhood do you live in." They quickly realized there's no Wicker Park in San Francisco, and sure as heck not a Marina in Chicago. They decided to meet anyways that following month when Alyssa was going to visit, but prior to then they talked and FaceTimed every. day. CUE CHEESY AND CRINGE pun: they met, and well, sparks flew long after The Fourth of July.

A week prior to the big sweat-inducing question, Alex went out for drinks with friends while Alyssa was at a bachelorette party. Recently, they'd bought their dog Emmitt a Furbo - essentially a dog treat cam with a two-way speaker. Alex gets home, forgets the Furbo can record video and voice - and tells his friends his plan for proposing. Alyssa, still out, opens up Furbo and sees Alex chatting with said friends at home. Because she's out - she can't hear Alex... but he spends the next week convinced she'd heard everything. Fast forward one week later, Memorial Weekend. They go to one of their favorite places with Emmitt - Galena, IL. As they walk through a park, a couple asks if they can pet him. After some small talk - they go their separate ways. That is, until a few feet later when Alex gets down on one knee. Here's where both of them blackout from nerves/tears and remember the proposal their own way. Thank god the talkative couple turned out to be local photographers Alex hired so they can remember every second through pictures. They celebrated with champagne, a trip to Illinois' finest winery, "Fuggedaboutit Wines", and a welcome party back at Alex's families lake house. Long story long - perfect. And no, Alyssa did NOT know about the proposal.