Alli and Jacob’s love story kicked off the way so many modern-day romances do—thanks to a dating app! #shoutouttoTheLeague. On Friday, December 30th, 2023, they matched, and Jacob wasted no time jumping in with a bold opener: “Why hasn’t anyone wifed you up yet?” From there, their conversation went from short messages to long, excited paragraphs (Jacob even remembers texting Alli while on the treadmill, where it took him a whole mile to type out just one message!). Before they knew it, they were both completely smitten. That same weekend on New Year’s Eve, Alli made vision boards with her friends, Stephanie and Yensy for the year ahead. As she added an engagement ring to her board, she confidently declared, “This is the year!” Little did anyone know, even though she hadn’t met Jacob in person yet, he was already on her mind when she said it. Talk about manifesting their happily ever after! 💍✨

Alli and Jacob’s first date was just a week after they matched—on January 5th, 2024! Jacob made reservations at Mercado in downtown Pasadena, excited but admittedly a little nervous. He couldn’t help but feel slightly intimidated by the number of coats Alli was wearing (one even had elbow patches—very classy, very Doctor-like, very demure!). But what Jacob didn’t know was that Alli was feeling a bit nervous too! It took her a few moments to shed her more formal alter ego—one Jacob lovingly calls “Professor Phillips”—before she could truly relax. Once they did, though, the chemistry was undeniable, and they both knew this was just the beginning of something special. After dinner, and maybe a little against her better judgment, Alli agreed to join Jacob at a bar called The Rhythm Room in DTLA. It was there that they came up with one of their favorite pastimes—playing Connect 4, but with a twist! They’d ask each other a question at every turn. This was also when Jacob first got a glimpse of Alli’s competitive side—she slumped down in the booth and pouted in frustration after each game of Jacob’s 4-for-4 win streak. But Jacob didn’t mind; finding her reaction utterly adorable! On the other side of the table, Alli developed an even greater sense of endearment for the questions Jacob asked, especially the thoughtful ones about her autism research. Jacob’s curiosity and genuine interest in her work had been one of the things that drew her to him from the very beginning. As their conversation turned to her research, Alli couldn’t help but appreciate how much attention Jacob paid to the details. He asked questions that were both insightful and respectful, and she was impressed by his ability to engage with such a complex subject. So much so that she jokingly accused him of reading her publications before the date just to prepare! But Jacob’s questions weren’t just about impressing her—they were a sign of how much he admired her intelligence, her passion for helping kids, and the success she’d built around those things. After their first of many long goodbye hugs, Alli texted Jacob her favorite song, "You" by Dan and Shay. Jacob listened to it on repeat during his drive home, wondering if Alli was the "You" in the song. The more he listened, the stronger the feeling grew—maybe she was the one he’d been waiting for.

Things were going wonderfully between Alli and Jacob, and while they had decided to not date other people, Alli wanted to take her time getting to know him before jumping into anything too serious. During this time, Jacob jokingly called himself her 'exclusive non-boyfriend,' but he wasn’t bothered by her hesitation. He felt secure in their relationship through their long phone calls, the growing frequency of their dates, and the deepening bond they were building. Jacob liked to call this the “proof in the pudding.” Then, on one special date in Griffith Park, Alli surprised Jacob with a pudding cup and a card that read, "The proof is in the pudding, and there's a lot of it. I would be blessed to call you my boyfriend." Jacob teased her for officially declaring him her boyfriend, but he was genuinely swooned by her gesture and had no idea how he would ever top such a sweet, romantic moment.

After nearly 12 months together, Jacob and Alli’s relationship had been filled with deep, meaningful conversations about love and marriage. By this point, Alli knew it was only a matter of time before Jacob would pop the question. As their one-year anniversary approached, Jacob decided to bring it all full circle with a romantic picnic in the place where it all began. He led Alli on a walk through Griffith Park, retracing the steps of their early days while playing the songs that had become the soundtrack of their relationship. As they neared a trail of rose petals leading to the carefully planned picnic, Alli was overcome by the significance of the moment. After taking a second to breathe it all in, Jacob read a heartfelt letter he had written—capturing all the feelings he had for her and the journey that had led them to this special day. But the biggest surprise of the whole engagement? The party waiting for her in her living room, thanks to her sisters and mom!