Ally and Nick met through "mutual friends" - which is basically the modern-day way of saying they met online. Yep, it's true! Ally and Nick swiped right on each other in the beginning of October in 2016. After a few weeks, Ally and Nick planned to meet. Being that it was later in October, and Nick's love for Halloween, he asked Ally to go to a haunted house. If you've ever seen Ally scared, then you know she was not about to give that first impression! They settled on dinner and had their first date 10-20-2016. Taking it slow through the holidays and winter, things began to heat up and take a more serious turn in the spring. Then one day in June, at a bar in Soulard, after a Cardinal's game, Nick said "those" three little words, "I love you" and they have said it to each other every single day since. In leu of a traditional anniversary, Ally and Nick celebrate this date, June 10th, as "I Love You Day." Ally and Nick got to know each other's friends and family. They traveled, explored the city, and moved in together. One random day, Nick told Ally “I love you” to which she playfully responded “How much, 1-10?” “Twelve” he said. That day their first tradition was born. “I love you 12.” Fast forward to 2018, Nick’s (Halloween themed) surprise 30th birthday. Ally had a special gift made for Nick. She had a singer/songwriter compose a song of their very own. It was THEIR story, as a song, and it was called, you guessed it, “I Love You 12.” Skip forward a year to 2019, Ally’s surprise 30th. At this point Ally and Nick had been together a while and were very in love. At the party, Ally’s friends and family were making wagers on whether or not Nick would pop the question and propose at the party. Ally was sure that if he were to propose, it would be on a random day. Nick would want to surprise her and would never ask on a holiday or a special date. She recalls her cousin and bridesmaid Jenny Williams saying “maybe that’s the best way to surprise you, then.”

Anyone who knows Ally and Nick knows they love to celebrate. Their life together will never fall short of gifts, trips, and date nights. When Nick gifted Ally with a surprise trip to Nashville for their anniversary (I Love You Day) in 2021, it didn’t seem like anything out of the ordinary and after not traveling due to the pandemic, she was thrilled to get away. Nashville was one of their favorite places after all. They were having the time of their lives together in Nashville. Ally mentioned that the singer/songwriter that wrote their “I Love You 12” song was from Nashville. She suggested they see if she was playing live anywhere on Broadway. It would be cool to see her perform live. It was planned for them to meet up with local friend and groomsman Nick Palazzolo. Ally was told there was an event happening on the other side of the pedestrian bridge they were all going to attend together. The view from the bridge was beautiful and naturally Ally wanted to take several selfies along the way. Nick seemed especially anxious to get to the top of the bridge, telling Ally he had scouted a way better view on his run that morning. They made it to the top and Nick was right! The view was stunning. In the middle of trying to get the perfect angle for a selfie with Nick, Ally heard a tune she recognized. It was THEIR song! They had run into the girl who composed their song and she was performing it! Right there in the streets of Nashville! “Babe, that’s OUR so—” Ally turned to tell Nick, not being able to finish the words before she and Nick met eyes. He smiled. Then she knew. This was it. Nick went to one knee, “You're my best friend, you're my favorite human, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?” After fumbling some words Ally was able to spit it out… YES!!! OMG YES!!! Nick had pulled off an EPIC surprise on a special date. Nick and Ally were engaged on “I Love You Day” while their song “I Love You 12” was performed live in the background.

Listen here: www.songfinch.com/stories/iloveyou12 Lyrics: Was it that bottle of wine Maybe the look in your eyes Something about you that night Was driving me wild Was it those neon lights The way your kiss felt so right I’ve never wanted something more And now that I have you I could never let you go I’ve never felt the way that I do Nothing compares To when I’m with you If I don’t tell you this everyday I love you 12 Yeah, I love you 12 Remember Nashville and Arizona Columbia and when you told me You loved me that one day in June You’re my best friend My biggest fan my lucky star And most of all the man I’d always hoped I’d find Now that I have you I could never let you go I’ve never felt the way that I do Nothing compares To when I’m with you If I don’t tell you this everyday I love you 12 Yeah, I love you 12