MEETING IN HIGH SCHOOL AS NERDS FROM DIFFERENT STATES

Back in the day, we were both in a leadership group called P.R.I.D.E., in our respective hometowns in Pennsylvania and Louisiana. We met every year at the national conference and eventually Laura came to Erie to help Alex and his group run a summer camp for middle schoolers. Romance did not blossom because high school Alex was lame. (Not sure that's changed at all...) 

THE COLLEGE YEARS

Years past by as Alex went off to RIT in Rochester, and Laura went to LSU in Baton Rouge. Neither had spoken to each other for our 4 years of fun (and learning... hi mom!). Life long friendships were built, where Alex met his Best Man, Josh and Laura had
endless dance parties with her Co-Maids of Honor, Haley and Jordan.
(Look at those baby faces!)

REUNITING IN SAN FRANCISCO

Just a month after Alex graduated and moved to San Francisco, Laura broke the years long silence with a delightful "I MISS YOU! Please hang out with me while I'm visiting my cousin in San Fran" Facebook message to Alex who gladly accepted the opportunity to take her to lunch. The chemistry was palpable.

5 YEARS OF FUN IN THE SUN

Once Laura moved to SF, we discovered the entire West Coast together. Eventually we moved in together to a tasteful shoebox across from a park, but only after residing in one too many neighborhoods of SF. 

From San Diego to Seattle, we've spent every day loving each other and exploring the world. Never missing an opportunity
for an ussie (a selfie of us).

GOING EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD

Exploring the world is one of our favorite things to do together. (Other than eating. We love good food.) We do solemnly swear to continue discovering bits of California, visit friends and family across America and to continue to travel to other countries and pretend to speak the language. Oh, and to eat all the food along the way.

POPPING THE QUESTION
(AS TOLD BY ALEX)

The sun was just starting to set at 10pm, as we were finishing our hiking excursion outside of Reykjavik last May. By the time we made it to the end of our hike, we had trekked down a mountain, bathed in natural hot springs, drank Icelandic Brennivín and ate fermented shark. Towards the end of our hike, I was awestruck by a massive gorge and accompanying waterfall. The ring was in my pack the entire hike, all with the intention of seizing the moment if it felt right. And this felt right.

I handed my camera to the hiking guide and asked Laura to come out onto this natural outcrop for a photo-op, in our neon rented jackets. As soon as I touched the ring box (now in my pocket), my legs stopped working - not ideal on the side of a mountain. Laura will say I slipped on the way to the outcrop and almost dragged us both off the edge. She wouldn't be wrong.

After stammering through a series of compliments unfit for a 4th grade love letter, I decided to skip to the good part and get down on one knee. Laura leapt backwards in surprise (not too far thankfully!) and hardly let me finish the question before tearing up and saying enough positive sounding mumbles that I took for a "Yes!"

Our whole hiking crew took us out for drinks and dancing until 4am, when we finally got back to the city and it will be a memory I cherish for life.