Ryan and Alyssa were both at the same point in their lives: they weren’t necessarily looking for love. Alyssa was working full-time while getting her masters degree, and Ryan was beginning his military service as a Marine Corps officer going through The Basic School (TBS) training in Quantico, Virginia. It was a coincidence that they would meet at a bar in downtown, D.C. on a summer night in June 2019. After their first date, they spent time together exploring D.C., attending Navy football games, watching movies, and traveling. Their similarities complimented one another and their differences sparked new interests and perspectives. Going on five years, three moves, and a deployment down, Alyssa and Ryan are still more in love than ever.

One of the best memories Ryan and Alyssa have throughout their relationship is the day they got their puppy, Jax. If you truly know Alyssa and Ryan, then you know that Jax is the center of their world. An energy-filled, loving, 85 pound golden retriever stole their heart in ways they could never imagine. The couple will never forget the first day they got Jax. They picked him up from a farm south outside of Savannah, Georgia. When the owner came outside with Jax, he was sound asleep, curled up, and so very small. Alyssa and Ryan knew at this moment that getting Jax was going to be the beginning of the most amazing experience and the start to the family they desired.

It's not easy to surprise Alyssa, but nevertheless, Ryan did it. With Alyssa’s family visiting for the weekend, Ryan drove her to Pensacola Beach for what she thought was a family dinner at a local beachside restaurant. Waiting for her family who was “running late,” he took her for a quick sunset walk along the sand, getting down on one knee in front of the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk to ask her for forever. Soon they were joined by her family for a perfect celebration of their engagement.