We’re finally getting married!

It all started in 2014, Barry traveled all the way to Indiana University to give a lecture to students at the local Hillel about Israel advocacy when he worked for Hasbara Fellowships. He walks into the staff offices and is greeted by the one and only Hillel dog, Mauri. Once Barry finally comes up from greeting Mauri, he meets Ally. They exchange a few words and then he goes on to leading the session. Ally listens in and is intrigued by Barry's passion and charming good looks. At the end of night Ally gives Barry her number suggesting he call her. Two weeks later, Barry finally gets the courage to call. They speak for a few days/weeks and Barry decides to make a campus visit back to Indiana University to spend a weekend together. Dinner at Topos, a Dan & Shay Concert at The Blue Bird, and a visit to Oliver Winery made for a fantastic weekend that Barry decided to come back the following week. The next weekend comes and things were getting serious. Ally was officially moving back to Maryland to purse a new job and Barry was contemplating his next move working at Hasbara. At the end of the weekend they were offically a couple. Three weeks later, through campus visits, Barry traveled to Maryland to visit Ally and meet her parents and extended family. Fast forward two years later, after traveling back and forth long distance between both coasts, Ally and Barry started a home together in Los Angeles with Mauri.

The story began when Barry asked Ally's parents, Paul and Harriet, for Ally's hand in marriage in August '18. Barry flew to Maryland alone to visit Paul and Harriet, and over chicken tikka lunches in Olney, Barry received Ally's parents blessing to marry their daughter. Barry knew that Ally's favorite place in the world is Lake Placid, NY- the place where she spent her winter and summer vacation visiting Sherrie and Allan Turkheimer- Ally's grandparents. Barry designed his own engagement ring with his dad‘s help. After speaking with multiple jewelers and diamond wholesalers in New York City, Barry hired a local jeweler in Hartsdale to create Ally's custom engagement ring. Family is central to Barry and Ally's life. Barry knew how important it was for Ally to be surrounded by her family on that special day they got engaged. Barry coordinated with Sherrie, Ally's grandmother, weeks in advance, to facilitate a planned trip to Lake Placid during a family Thanksgiving trip in '18. The timing was also particularly perfect due to the whole Turkheimer clan planning to descend on Saratoga Springs, NY during Thanksgiving to celebrate Sherrie and Allan's 60th Wedding Anniversary. Surrounded by Ally's family and a winter wonderland of sorts, Ally and Barry traveled to Lake Placid's Olympic Center. With Allan's old work connections, the family trekked into the Olympic Center and visited the old hockey rink Ally memorably ice-skated on in her younger days. Sensing the time was finally upon him, surrounded by Ally's family, Barry asked Ally to spend the rest of their lives together. After the big moment, it was all smiles and joy as the newly engaged couple celebrated their special simcha at Sherrie and Allan's 60th wedding anniversary party at Sue and Camm's (Ally's Aunt and Uncle) house, surrounded by Ally's family (and gluten-free pasta and pizza).