Even though our story starts in Lenexa, Kansas, Elizabeth was born in Hershey, Pennsylvania, while Alexander was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Our paths first crossed in the 3rd Grade at Holy Trinity Catholic School, where Elizabeth had attended since Kindergarten, but Alexander had just moved to town as the new kid in the class. Alexander made a lot of noise at Holy Trinity, both figuratively and literally, and his 3rd grade teacher famously said that he will either "end up being the President, or in prison.” Elizabeth on the other hand, was a sweet, well-behaved and kind girl who no one would have guessed would end up with the class troublemaker! To summarize: we were (and still are) polar opposites. Although we did not interact much throughout our time in grade school, Elizabeth has many memories of watching Alexander get into trouble. She still talks about how in their 8th grade class, she remembers Alexander singing and dancing to Party Rock Anthem in the lunch line, which resulted in him sitting in the hallway (this happened a lot)! With these stories in mind, it still surprises so many people who knew us in grade school that we are a couple today!

Believe it or not, this is us in the 8th grade on All Saints Day (we are the same height!)

Upon graduation from 8th grade, we went our separate ways: for high school, Elizabeth went to Notre Dame de Sion while Alexander went to St. James Academy. For context: We weren’t friends on Facebook, didn’t follow each other on Instagram, and weren’t even friends on Snapchat, despite going to school together for 6 years and living only 10 minutes apart.We were very much living different lives. This continued through college, when Elizabeth went to Creighton University to study art, while Alexander went to Rockhurst University to study technology and business.

As you could guess, despite this 8 year period of “no contact”, there was a time where our paths crossed once again: The exact date was Easter Sunday, April 4 2021, at brunch at the Shadow Glen Country Club where both of our parents are members. Both of our families were having our own separate meals, unaware of each other’s presence until Joan (Alexander's mom) passed by Elizabeth’s family’s table. Joan stopped to chat with the Arroyos, and said “Alexander is with us! I will send him over to say hi.” After a short and pleasant catch-up, Alexander said goodbye and went back to his table. Later that evening, Alexander followed and reached out to Elizabeth on Instagram, without no ulterior motive other than reconnecting after so long.

Funny enough, this two message "nice to see you!" exchange was the end of the conversation. However, through this small interaction, they were now much more aware of each other’s lives, and Alexander would see Elizabeth post on Instagram over the course of the next year, which started to get his attention.

Fast forward to September 8th 2022: Alexander had just moved back from San Francisco at the end of August for work. At the end of July of that same year, Alexander’s cousin Annie was visiting Kansas to see a Big Time Rush concert (lol), and while visiting, she convinced Alexander to go to Crumbl Cookies, where he had never been. The only reason he even knew it existed was because of Elizabeth’s Instagram, where she would frequently post weekly reviews of the menu! On September 8th, Alexander thought a clever way to spark up a conversation with Elizabeth would be to go to Crumbl, and message her about it!

This conversation continued on for another three hours, and eventually ended with them agreeing to meet up to go to Blue Sushi the week after to catch up in person (as friends!!!).

Alexander and Elizabeth continued to hang out every week or so: going out for more sushi runs, Nebraska furniture mart to help Alexander pick out things for his new house, going to Louisburg Cider Mill (where Elizabeth first met his Greek friends), and Alexander’s friend group joined Elizabeth’s at her house for Halloween.

Eventually on December 7th 2022, we went out for our first “real” date, and went to Waldo Thai on Elizabeth’s recommendation. We talked and laughed for hours (which is typically how our time together is spent). We continued to go on more dates, and towards the end of January we started seriously toying with the idea of becoming an “official” couple. Alexander made a joke that he would finally ask her out officially if she got him a chocolate chip cookie from French Market, which Elizabeth introduced Alexander to as one of her favorite places.

Shortly after, the cookie was delivered, and Alexander asked her to officially be his girlfriend on February 10th, 2023. Four days later we went to Paros Estiatorio for a fancy Valentine’s Day dinner which was our first dinner as a couple, where Alexander learned for the first time that Elizabeth can get tired and fall asleep anywhere, as an hour into dinner she took a nap, eventually slept the whole drive home, and promptly went to bed (a story Alexander loves to tell).

Another four days later on February 18th, we went to our first public outing as a couple, which was an invite to a Missouri Mavericks hockey game with all of the faculty from Elizabeth’s job as a high school art teacher. To this day this is Alexander’s favorite photo of Elizabeth and him together. Nothing makes her happier than a hotdog!

Not much has changed since then: we still go out for sushi at least once a week like we did when we first hung out as friends. We both agree that going out to eat is our favorite thing to do as a couple! Alexander loves doing anything and everything to make Elizabeth laugh, and Elizabeth loves surprising Alexander with anything that reminds her of him (usually a cookie!). We have been to so many places together, including New York and Chicago on friends trips, San Francisco (where Alexander now lives again for work), San Diego (Elizabeth tagged along for a work trip), Los Angeles (for Alexander’s surgery), Orlando (for Alexander’s Greek dance competition), and eventually Greece for three weeks, where Alexander proposed on July 12th 2023.

Philopappos Hill (across from the Acropolis)

We are so excited for our wedding day and to celebrate it with all of our closest friends and family! After that, we can’t wait to start our new life together in San Francisco! We have been long distance since October of 2024 since Alexander moved for work, but we have made a commitment to see each other at least once every three weeks, which we have kept!

Both of us are extremely excited to start a family, something we have talked about endlessly since getting engaged. Alexander hopes to have at least one kid that is “just like him”, but all Elizabeth can think about is the Alexander she knew in grade school, and is hoping to avoid that!

We hope you enjoyed our unique story and path towards reconnecting with each other again after so many years!

We love you all!

Elizabeth & Alexander :)