In September 2020, in the midst of COVID, Brian spotted and was instantly attracted to Alli, on the premier online dating platform, Hinge ;-). With his handsome looks and a refreshing first comment about laughter, Brian immediately caught Alli's attention in return.

At the time, Alli had just completed the first quarter of her master’s program in Sport & Performance Psychology. Intelligent, driven, and full of warmth, Alli was making her mark in her field. After encountering her fair share of frogs in the dating pond, she was ready to take a break from dating—until Brian changed everything with his transparent, thoughtful, consistent, and affirming approach.

As they got to know each other, Alli and Brian discovered they had more in common than they expected. Both grew up in Maryland—Brian on the D.C. side and Alli on the Baltimore side of the beltway. Their paths may have unknowingly crossed years before at the same Dave Matthews concert in ‘96 at Nissan Pavilion and again at the 99.1 HFStival, a D.C./Baltimore rock festival, in ‘99. They also shared memories of summers spent in Ocean City, Maryland, and in a twist of fate, they even rang in the New Year of 2020 at establishments just across the street from each other. It seemed like only a matter of time before the stars aligned for them to finally meet.

Their first in-person meeting took place at Bier Garden in Encinitas. Though brief—since Brian had to leave shortly after Alli arrived—it was enough to spark something. Alli stayed for dinner with a friend, only to later realize that Brian had quietly picked up the tab for their drinks (smooth move). This thoughtful gesture led to a follow-up conversation, a second date... then a third, a fourth, and many more.

Six months into dating, Alli had the joy of meeting Max, Brian’s then two-year-old son. Their first hangout involved pizza in a park and playing with toy cars, setting the stage for a growing bond. Alli embraced Max with open arms, quickly becoming an important figure in his life.

Over the years, Brian and Alli shared countless adventures together, traveling to Mammoth, Catalina Island, Outer Banks, Cabo, Hawaii, Lake Norman, Steamboat Springs, Ocean City, Scottsdale, and Paso Robles. Along the way, they’ve built cherished traditions—Thanksgiving in San Diego with Cardiff Crack and all the fixings; Christmas dinners at Alli’s parents' house in Maryland with Brian, his mother, and Max; special birthday celebrations; and regular date nights around San Diego.

By June 2024, Brian, Alli, Max, and their beloved dog, Tux, moved into their first home together. That September, Brian surprised Alli with a sweet and intimate proposal at home. As the year came to a close, Alli achieved a major milestone by finishing her doctoral degree in Sport & Performance Psychology, while Brian proudly received an honorary degree for his unwavering support.

Beyond love, Alli and Brian share a deep friendship and mutual admiration, feeling lucky to have found each other. They truly enjoy each other’s company, embracing their shared taste in activities, music, food, and more. Now, as they step into this next chapter as husband and wife, they can’t wait to celebrate their love and future together with all of you!

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