Our story isn’t your typical love story … or is it?

Filled with highs and lows, good times and not so good times. We grew up together, fell apart, came back together, and it is a story that seemed to have a predictable ending to everyone but us. But at last, the happy fairy tale ending happened. From the day we met until now, one thing remained to be true. It was always her and I. It was always us.

Now let me tell you about our story. I promise to try to keep it short! The long version can be shared over a few cold beers. It all started when I moved to Willoughby Hills from Mentor before my 7th grade year. Yes, for those of you that don’t know, it all started back in 2005. My best friend, Doug, and his sister, Kristy, brought me over to her friend Amy's house to swim. As we were swimming we saw a bunch of girls dancing in the back window of the house. One of those dancing girls is Amy’s younger sister and now my soon to be wife, Alexa. At the time, Lex was not impressed with me. In fact, she had no interest in the new kid that her sister’s friend brought over to swim. Must’ve been my fro and the braces. That would all change. The school year started and we became closer. Before you know it, Alexa was giving me my first kiss outside the middle school before I hopped on the bus to go home. I remember it like it was yesterday.

We continued to date on and off throughout high school. Going to each other’s games and sharing memories throughout our teenage years. Alexa graduated from South High and chose to go play basketball at Notre Dame College. She finally thought she got rid of me for good … not so fast! As it happens, NDC is one of the only Division 2 football programs to offer me a scholarship. Reunited again as Falcons. However, college challenged us. We dated for awhile but ultimately broke up and went our separate ways. The friends and memories we made together in college gave us some of our best, life long friends. Some of which you will see standing up there next to us on our special day.

Fast forward 7 years. We reconnected at a local bar. Lex walked in looking amazing as usual. As my buddy Casey can testify, I was in awe. It cannot be confirmed nor denied but there are rumors I told her I was going to marry her that night. A few months later, we had our 100th first date in October of 2020 at a Mexican restaurant in Downtown Willoughby. Nervous was an understatement. A couple margaritas would help with that. We had some catching up to do as well as some growing up (I still have some). But it was finally us. We were giving it one more shot. 11 months after our 100th first date, I got down on my knee in front of the first home we bought together and asked the most beautiful girl in the world to marry me. She said yes. Finally. The one who always held a piece of my heart since I was a teenager, will now become my wife in October.

Our story isn’t traditional. It has twists and turns like an old country road. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything because that road made us the people we are today and led us to where we are now.

For everyone that has been there since the beginning, and went on this wild ride with us. We thank you. Without you all we wouldn’t be where we are today.

It was always us.

Let’s celebrate!

With Love,

Ray + Alexa

Q + A

Are kids welcomed?