After graduating from Loyola Marymount University, Phil had spent the last year working as a server at The Daily Grill in D.C. He decided to move back to the west coast, and transferred to the Irvine Daily Grill location. Alyssa was in her junior year at the University of California, Irvine, working as a hostess at that same Daily Grill. Alyssa noticed there was a new hire, and when Phil walked in the door he was greeted with a bubbly, "So, you must be Phil." Later that day, Phil couldn't help but go home and tell his roommate and college-buddy Chase about the cute girl with the blue eyes he met at work. There was the typical flirting at work for a while. They shared a couple meals together; Alyssa not knowing this was Phil's love language. Eventually, they started talking more and hanging out outside of work. Alyssa eventually asked Phil to go with her to a Giants-Dodgers baseball game. Phil SWEARS this wasn't a date, but it definitely was. (Phil's note: It wasn't, just two friends at a ball game). On the ride home, Phil told Alyssa that he wasn't trying to be in a relationship with anyone at that time. (Apparently when he moved back, he told himself he wouldn't be distracted by girls. He met Alyssa 2 weeks later). They stayed friends for a couple months, but in November at Alyssa's Friendsgiving party, they both realized they wanted something more. They finally went on their first date (according to Phil), and continued to date for about a month. On New Years Eve that year (2016), one of Phil's tables asked if he had any post-work plans for the new year. He responded that he was going to go hang out with his girlfriend and some other friends after work. When Phil told Alyssa this story, she responded, "did you say girlfriend?" And they made it official on New Years Day 2017. And now, 7 years later, here we are :) Phil's note: I feel like there's still 7 years of stuff in between then and now, but hey ask us at the wedding! The picture below is the first photo of us together, taken that New Year's Eve- 12/31/2016.