I guess you could say the story starts in the early 2000's.

Craig (Alicia's dad) and Gene (Tyler's dad) met, unsurprisingly, through soccer -- Gene was a former professional soccer player and a local soccer legend who coached some of the winningest boys teams in Northern Virginia, while Craig--an international tax attorney by day--had a side gig as an agent representing professional soccer players.

The parents quickly became friends.

Fast forward to 2007. Tyler was a Terp playing soccer at the University of Maryland and Alicia was a senior in high school tagging along with her dad to a Maryland soccer game to scout players. Alicia & Tyler met after the game, but alas, it was not love at first sight. Perhaps a shocking concept only to the mothers, a cool college boy had little interest in a high school girl.

Fast forward a decade to December 2017. Alicia was living in Los Angeles attending UCLA Law School while her parents maybe (definitely) had too much fun at Tyler's 30th birthday party. Someone's phone ended up in a toilet. The scheming begins.

Summer 2018. The Sharon's throw a big bash to celebrate Craig's 60th birthday, Katy graduating from high school, and Alicia graduating from law school.

And this is where the interested parties disagree on the narrative of events:

The Mom's Version: "The kids made googly-eyes at each other from across the bar."

Alicia & Tyler's Version: "We had a conversation. It was fine."

The Dad's Version: "Keep us out of this."

2018 - 2020. Tyler is living in Virginia and Alicia is still living in Los Angeles, but every 6 months or so Alicia gets a call from her mom (Christina) about how she just saw Denise (Tyler's mom) and "Tyler is doing well...[long pause on phone]...and he's still single." Cool story, Mom.

Early 2020. Alicia is back in Virginia for work and the pandemic hits, trapping her at her parents house in Vienna, VA.

Late 2020. The parents start having socially distanced dinners outside on the Sharon's patio.

Spring 2021. The mom's make their move. Tyler shows up to a socially distanced dinner. Fifteen minutes before they arrive, Alicia--who has been living in loungewear during the pandemic--gets asked "is that what you're wearing?" Alicia puts on jeans for the first time in a year. Alicia & Tyler hit it off and Alicia gives Tyler her number.

The First Date. Tyler & Alicia get drinks at a brewery and talk for hours until the place closes. More dates happen. The mom's try to play it cool (spoiler alert: they don't).

July 2021. Denise starts telling everyone that Tyler "finally" has a girlfriend. Craig regrets telling everyone for years that "Tyler is a great guy" because he's now lost all leverage in trying to get Tyler to earn his approval.

July 2022. Tyler takes Alicia to Illinois to meet his extended family. Alicia returns home and tells friends "I think he might be the one."

December 2022. Tyler leaves his bachelor pad and moves in with Alicia.

April 2023. Alicia & Tyler take a trip to London. Alicia buys tickets to see Liverpool (Tyler's favorite team) play Man City at the Etihad in Manchester. Alicia does not check the tickets and see that the game time got moved up three hours. Alicia & Tyler are walking through Manchester streets and see a packed pub watching a soccer game. THE GAME THEY HAVE TICKETS TO. Tyler grabs a cab and they get to the game 10 minutes before half. They laugh it off. Tyler realizes Alicia is "the one."

Summer 2023. Tyler (with help from Denise) designs and picks out the ring.

September 15, 2023. Every morning Alicia & Tyler take the dog for a walk to get coffee before work. In the middle of their morning walk in the park Tyler gets really serious and Alicia thinks he's about to break up with her. Instead, Tyler gets down on one knee. Alicia says YES.

And the mom's have been demanding credit every day since.