The absolute right person, but the wrong time could only describe the beginning of what would become this walk off - grand slam of a love story. For months, Stephen and Ally were, as Stephen so perfectly describes it, “two ships passing in the night,” sharing small interactions, flirty looks, loving smiles, and the occasional challenging bicker, never quite realizing that the person standing right in front of them would one day become their person. Life took them in different directions, but somehow, their paths continued to cross until their friends finally decided enough was enough. Their first date was a very intentional night out with friends at Blue Sushi, where their friends made sure they were seated directly across from each other. What started as a group of friends throwing in the towel and deciding it was time for these two to finally figure it out for themselves would spark the beginning of a love truly for the record books.

Since that night, Stephen and Ally have built a life together in all of the big moments and, perhaps even more importantly, in the little ones. They love opening their home to family and friends, filling it with laughter, stories, good food, and memories. They spend plenty of time cuddled up with their two favorite pups, Wrigley Bear and Lucy Girl, and can almost always be found cheering on their favorite sports teams through the most heartbreaking losses and the most exciting championships, with “Knicks in Five!” becoming a very serious household motto. Their game nights are filled with darts, fiercely competitive rounds of Gin Rummy, and the kind of love that somehow survives even their most intense competitive sides. Through all of the adventures, celebrations, challenges, and everyday moments, they have become best friends, teammates, and each other’s favorite person to do life with.

Then came the moment that began their next chapter. Surrounded by their favorite people, Stephen pulled off the most unimaginable surprise and asked Ally to spend forever with him. It was a moment that perfectly captured what makes their story so special: the people they love most, a surprise Ally never saw coming, and a love story that had somehow been unfolding long before either of them realized it. Looking back, every passing glance, every missed opportunity, every perfectly placed seat at Blue Sushi, and every moment that followed led them exactly where they were meant to be. What began as two ships passing in the night became two people who found their way back to each other, and never want to let each other go.