Angela & Tyler

Saturday, April 12, 2025 • Fort Myers, FL

Angela & Tyler

Saturday, April 12, 2025 • Fort Myers, FL

Our Story

Tell us where and how did you first meet?


Tyler - When I was working at the Rehoboth Beach adidas I would do comparison shopping once or twice a month. This was to see what promotions other stores were running and the kind of product they were selling. Angela was working as a lead at Asics. After several months of work focused conversations we began talking about ourselves. Our first conversation revolved around tomatoes and how we like to eat them. Tomato dishes are some of our favorite to make these days and always remind me of that conversation that started it all.


Angela - We met at the outlets at work… Tyler worked in the same center as I did in Rehoboth Beach, and would walk around the center to see what competitor shops were doing. While he was walking around he stopped into Asics. When I first saw him I was caught off guard. I felt like a kid and hid because I thought he was so cute. We started off talking about work only for quite some time, and eventually had a conversation about tomatoes. During this conversation we even talked about how we would cut the tomatoes differently using a hat as a prop. This conversation was the kick start of "maybe he likes me" kind of feelings.


How was the first date?


Tyler - As far as first dates go, I thought it was the best (Though I may be a little bias). We met at a coffee shop in Rehoboth called The Coffee Mill around lunch time. We then spent the remainder of the day just talking. Talking about everything and anything. We left the coffee shop after an hour and walked up and down the boardwalk until sunset. Time had never moved quicker, and I could not wait for our next date.


Angela - It all started with Tyler finding out that I enjoyed coffee from my coworker and setting up our first date to be at The Coffee Mill in Rehoboth Beach. Tyler doesn't like coffee. I remember struggling to find the perfect casual but thought out outfit. I started to run a little late, but Tyler was on time waiting for me on the sidewalk by the time I arrived. We got to the café, Tyler had a strawberry banana smoothie and I got a café mocha. We sat and talked for at least an hour, and then walked the board walk for another couple hours. When the sunset we walked back to our cars and we sat in Tyler's car until it got dark. It was completely different from any other first date I have had. As I pulled away to go home I remember thinking about Taylor Swift's song, "on a Wednesday in a café I watched it begin again."


What was your favorite trip together?


Tyler - Every place we go together I have an amazing time. Daytrips to go hiking, or traveling half way across the world to meet Angela's family in Japan. Being with her is the place I want to be, so it is hard to pick one trip I have enjoyed the most. The one that I found the most striking was our trip out to Colorado. The geography is striking, and reminds you of the vastness of the world. Star gazing at the Milky Way, hiking in Telluride, and seeing the way Native Americans built homes in the side of cliffs all amazed me.


Angela - It's so hard to pick just one favorite trip, because everywhere we go feels like the next favorite trip! Colorado is one of the top trips that we've taken together. I loved being able to go hiking in Telluride, seeing the Arches in Utah, and just enjoying being disconnected from the rest of the world, while taking it all in with Tyler by my side.


When did you first know you were falling in love?


Tyler - My revelation was as profound as it was simple. I thought about Angela all the time. I wondered what she was up to, if she was having a good day, when I would be able to see her again. I realized that someone else's feelings and wellbeing mattered much more to me than my own. Once I sat down with myself and my emotions to reflect, I was able to name how I was feeling and I realized I was in love.


Angela - There isn't any one moment that I was like this is it I love him. Our love grew quickly for me. It grew as I got to learn all the sides of Tyler. The sides that no one knew, the sides he was willing to share with me, the ones he had only shown to himself. Not only did Tyler share himself with me, but he shared it was okay for me to be who I am. To freely be me. That he would accept me for me. When I started to feel like I would do anything for just a moment with Tyler, that was it. I was falling head over heals for him.


When did you know you were going to propose?


Tyler - Honestly, shortly after I realized I love Angela I considered our lives and futures together. Proposal was a natural progression of our relationship to me. I loved her and knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. Figuring what she wanted and how to do it, that was a whole other thing.


Did you know it (proposal) was coming?


Angela - Not until it was actually happening. I was pretty clueless that Tyler was carrying a belt bag around to carry the ring on him. I thought it was him being responsible in a foreign country carrying his own passport instead of having me carry it. Once it was actually happening I remember thinking to myself "it's happening" as Tyler was getting himself ready. Even then I was still shocked when he asked. I couldn't get out more than a "yeah?!", until he asked "So is that a yes?". I of course said "Yes!"