It all began on a warm evening in Key West, Florida, where fate decided to play its part. Tyler, in town on a work trip, had one last night to enjoy the warm Florida air before heading home. Meanwhile, Ali happened to be waitressing at a waterfront restaurant called Boat House. Tyler and the boys wandered in and got lucky enough to be seated in Ali’s section. While Tyler was captivated from the moment he saw her—what he calls "love at first sight"—Ali was preoccupied, balancing trays and trying to keep up with the endless pitchers of beer they ordered. Despite the hustle and bustle of the night, playful banter sparked between them. That connection led to Ali agreeing to meet Tyler and his friends after work.

After that night, neither of them could shake the feeling that something special had begun. Over the next month, they spent every day on the phone, getting to know each other from afar. By Thanksgiving, Tyler couldn’t resist the pull and booked a flight back to Florida. Instead of the traditional turkey and stuffing, they found themselves in Miami, at a cozy Italian restaurant. Over pasta and wine, they shared their first real date and a very non-traditional holiday together.

Just four days after that, Ali flew to Virginia Beach to celebrate Tyler’s birthday. It was then that things became official—they knew this was something real.

The months that followed were full of adventure and adversity, as they navigated a long-distance relationship. Ali was working on yachts, traveling from port to port, while Tyler was preparing for a major deployment. They spent as much time together as possible playing golf, tossing die, and walking the beach. As fall approached, Tyler left for what would be a 9-month cruise, with only sporadic communication and none of Ali’s home cooking to get him through. Despite the distance and the quiet, their love only grew stronger. The saying proved true for them—absence truly made the heart grow fonder.

When Tyler finally returned home, it was a moment of pure joy. They had so much to celebrate, not just his homecoming, but the strength of their bond, which had deepened over the months apart. Their happiness grew even more when Tyler received the exciting news that he’d been accepted to a new position in Fallon, Nevada, set to start in January.

Just a week after that life-changing call, Tyler made another bold move—he asked Ali to pick out a ring.

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