Alex and Jess grew up on the same street, Impala Drive. We often played football and other games with the neighborhood kids. Alex used to drive Jess to high school. We were close friends and continued to make time for each other on holiday breaks when Jess came home from college. On March 3rd, 2017, we decided to make it official and started dating.

Alex came to Cleveland for the first time to accompany Jess to her sorority formal.

Cleveland minigolf adventures

Waiting to go to brunch at The Inn on Coventry in Cleveland

Jess's 23rd birthday in Cleveland

Our first Pirates game together. Now, this is one of our favorite summer activities.

In 2018 Jess started medical school in Toledo, Ohio. We made the distance work and traveled the 3.5 hours to and from Pittsburgh often over the next 4 years.

The Christmas in July Summer Bash 2019! (This is one of Alex's friends' favorite traditions)

Back to Cleveland for a summer weekend

Alex bought this flag with hopes that it would someday fly at our future home. Currently, it resides in the basement/man cave. #HereWeGoSteelers #BigBlue

During COVID, Jess came home from Toledo and we spent almost 3 whole months living in the same city for the first time since we started dating. We discovered a ton of new hiking trails and enjoyed the unexpected time together.

Alex came up to Toledo and we decorated the apartment for fall.

For our 4th anniversary, we spent a weekend at Geneva on the Lake (it is about equidistant from Pittsburgh and Toledo). This became a tradition for our new few anniversaries.

Kayaking at Keystone State Park

This summer was packed full of weddings. We were lucky enough to celebrate so many of our friends even with Jess's med school schedule.

We kicked off 2022 with one of our favorite Pittsburgh events; Beer Fest

Match Day! Jess matched to her #1 choice of residency, UPMC. Alex was thrilled that Jess would be coming home to Pittsburgh, but also that he was able to keep his job.

Dr. Jessi, at your service.

We bought our first home!

Alex proposed on the 4th of July, 2022. Jess had just started residency and disappointed that she was unable to join her family in Bethlehem, where we always celebrate. Jess's family came home early and had a 4th of July celebration at our new house after Jess got home from work. After dinner, Alex surprised Jess and proposed right in our back yard.

Our friends and family surprised us with an engagement party!

We spent Jess's birthday in Columbus

Alex finally made it the Outer Banks for family vacation

The rest of 2023 was spent wedding planning and enjoying time with our friends and family