Landon's Version: In the fall of our freshman year at UT, I had no idea that helping a friend from ROTC would lead to the love of my life. My buddy, Jake, casually mentioned that his engineering friend needed a hand moving her bed.

Our initial interaction was a bit comical. After wrestling her bed into place, I hit the gym for a nice little workout. Later, the 3 of us decided to watch the UT vs. Texas A&M game in my neighbor’s dorm. Before the game, I wanted to freshen up with a nice, relaxing shower. So, I politely asked her to leave my dorm. Little did I know that this would become one of our inside jokes down the road, like my infamous Beefaroni dinner during the game, a culinary masterpiece she still teases me about to this day. Afterwards, I was definitely interested in getting to know her more. My friends Jake and Ryan would ask me about her a few times over the next couple of weeks, and I caught the hints they were throwing out.

A few weeks later, serendipity brought us together again. My friends and I had just left an ugly sweater party when we decided to offer her and her friend a ride back to their dorm. I finally mustered enough courage while in a pink sweater of all things to get her number and Snapchat in that car ride. From then on, we started talking and built a pretty special connection. We officially began dating in March 2017, and time definitely flies when you’re together with your best friend.

As we got to know each other better, we discovered our shared interests in working out, cooking, staying healthy, our mutual affection for dogs, a good cup of coffee, the thrill of live music, dancing with each other, traveling, simple days on the lake, and spending aimless amounts of time shopping (only when it’s for something she wants). These all deepen our connection and continue to make our time together enjoyable.

There wasn't one specific moment that made me realize she was the one, but instead a gradual process of falling for her. The way we effortlessly connected, the shared laughter, and the countless moments of kindness and thoughtfulness all played a role in my growing feelings for her. What I cherish most about her is her boundless capacity for love and selflessness. She's always willing to go the extra mile for others. We did face challenges, especially when semesters or months kept us apart with long-distance. But because of those times, we grew stronger as a couple.

After returning to Knoxville from the first two years of medical school in Memphis, I knew I couldn't bear to be apart from her any longer. Her unwavering support and love during that time solidified my desire to marry her. The moment I decided to propose was on our Hawaii vacation. It was the 1999th day of our journey together, and I couldn't have picked a more special person to spend the rest of my days with.

When I proposed, her reaction was a mix of happiness, tears, and genuine surprise, even though she claims she knew it all along. I'll never forget her first words after the proposal: YES!” followed shortly by, “You have to put the ring on my finger!” a classic Alex one-liner.

Our journey together has been one filled with adventures, big and small, but every day with Alex is an adventure in itself. She brings joy and laughter into my life (along with planning… a lot of planning), making even the toughest chapters of life like medical school easier to bear.

Looking ahead, I envision a life filled with more laughter, more adventures, and countless shared memories. The love we've built together is the foundation for a lifetime of happiness, and I can't wait to cherish each and every moment with her.

Registry