A story that began in a dark and dingy place that has turned into seven years of bright and beautiful love!

On a September 23rd, 2017, on a University of Maryland game day, Ally and James met in the corner of The Cornerstone Grill & Loft in College Park, MD. Ally didn't want to go to the bar that day, but her friend Sophia convinced her to go. She had heard of James but wasn't initially interested. However, disgusted at the color of James's bright blue drink he was consuming that day, Ally peeled her feet off of the sticky bar floor and made her way over to ask what the concoction was. The two immediately clicked.

That same day, knowing that Ally's sorority formal was coming up, James decided to tell (not ask) Ally that he was going to be her date. Truthfully, Ally didn't think that he was going to remember telling her that the next day, but thankfully he did, and thats how their story began.

The two spent most days and weekends together after that and had their first real date at Panera, where Ally ordered mac and cheese because she was too nervous to eat anything else. During that date, James asked Ally to be his date to his fraternity event, where he (finally) asked Ally to be his girlfriend.

Ally and James have enjoyed so many of life's moments together since then. First times meeting friends and families, first apartments, first internships, first jobs, first trips to Europe—there have been so many amazing memories shared as best friends!

As most of you know, Ally and James have lived a bit all over the place, from College Park, then Baltimore, Hoboken, NYC, Montville, NYC (again), and now Hoboken (again), but the two have always been partners no matter the distance, whether it was walking five minutes down the road to get to each other or traveling to and from NJ and Maryland.

On July 7, 2024, on Allys grandpas 85th birthday, James asked Ally to marry him on Hilton Head Island — a place that the two fell in love with during their road trip down there during COVID. Before heading to dinner, they walked down a nearby dock, where James got down on one knee while a violinist played Isn't She Lovely. Ally said yes, while wearing blue of course, in front of a dinner cruise ship full of people, and according to Ally's grandpa, it was the best birthday gift ever.

Today, the two have settled into their Hoboken apartment — perhaps a little too settled because they often just want to sit on the couch and watch the latest limited series or trashy reality show together. They enjoy taking walks together (Ally probably enjoys more than James), traveling, trying new foods, making cocktails, drinking wine, and spending time with their friends and families. They are truly blessed to have found each other and to have friends and families in their lives that mean so much to them! They cannot wait to celebrate their love with you all.