Our journey began on July 12, 2022, at Chapala, a cozy Mexican restaurant near Sam Rayburn Lake in Jasper, Texas. Over chips, salsa, and margaritas, we quickly realized we had something special. After dinner, we strolled along the beach, talking about everything and nothing all at once. It was the kind of connection that felt both effortless and electric.

What followed was a whirlwind few months of dating before life pulled us in different directions. Tyler headed to Korea with the Army, while Ali chased her dreams to Nashville. With a 14-hour time difference between us, long-distance love was no easy feat, but we made it work through late-night video calls, mismatched phone times, and occasional visits. And in between, we kept the romance alive by sending postcards to each other—little snapshots of our separate worlds, tucked into envelopes and filled with notes that made us feel close, even when we were far apart. Those two years taught us patience, creativity, and how to appreciate every small moment we got to share.

Finally, the stars aligned and life brought us back to each other—this time in El Paso, Texas. There, on a beautiful evening with a bottle of wine, a charcuterie board, and a stunning sunset over the Franklin Mountains, Tyler asked the question we both knew was coming: "Will you marry me?" It was simple, yet perfect—just like our love.

After almost three years of chasing each other across the globe, we’re finally ready to stop running and settle into forever. We couldn’t be more excited to begin this new chapter together, surrounded by the people we love.