One sunny day in the spring of 2014, Alexis came into Gavin’s life. But not in the way most love stories start. Gavin had known of Alexis, but they’d never actually met… so he found it incredibly convenient when they both ended up stranded at a racetrack following a day at the Foxfield Races in Charlottesville, Virginia. Both of them had missed their buses home. Shunned away by every coach bus they attempted to sneak onto, the two ended up hitch-hiking back to UVA together. The car banter was lively, a friendship sparked instantly, but neither of them had realized they had no money to give the driver they’d promised to pay. In an age before UBER or Venmo, they had no choice but to pull a real-life Bonnie & Clyde dash out of the car at a stop sign, and sprinted into their local university bar. Once the coast was clear, Gavin suggested they stick around for a beer and some spinach & artichoke dip. Call it a ‘first date’. Throughout the next few years of college, Alexis & Gavin traded invites to date functions, entwined their friend circles, and got to know each other. However, with their busy schedules and Gavin heading off to a 6-month study abroad stint in Europe… the two never wound-up dating in college. Nevertheless, Gavin persisted. Ultimately, through death by a thousand… acts of courtship, Gavin won her love. (Not without a little help from her parents - you should ask them about that.) The immediate period that followed college was characterized by uncertainty. Gavin was briefly moving back to Seattle and Alexis was due to spend the next few months on the road as she started her career in Beer. Not exactly ideal conditions for a blossoming relationship. But as the saying goes, true love conquers all. Alexis helped Gavin land his first post-grad job. Gavin helped Alexis navigate the fears of rotating around the country without a home base. They continued to love & support each other from a long distance, DC to New York, for 3 full years. Anyone who’s ever had a long-distance relationship can attest to it being tough. But they thrived thanks to tons of money spent on Amtrak and the award-winning “Washington Deluxe Bus Coach Service”. We think Gavin still has points. Eventually, their commitment paid off when Gavin finally got the nod to work remote and move to the Big Apple. Plot twist: Gavin moved up in February 2020. And thanks to a little thing called COVID, Alexis & Gavin went from not seeing each other beyond 1-2 days twice a month, to living in the same 800 sq ft. apartment 24/7/365. For many couples this would be a trial by fire. Or a premise for murder. But Gavin & Alexis couldn’t have been happier. Making the bed, replenishing seltzer waters, and keeping the toilet seat down became easy compromises when it meant finally getting to live with your best friend. As the pandemic lifted and life went back to normal, Alexis & Gavin had several incredible years living together as partners in their now shared city. Finally, after 8 years of traveling the world, navigating new jobs, one or two trips to the hospital, and adopting each other’s families… It was time to ask an important question. This past March on the beaches of Kauai, Gavin asked Alexis to marry him. It was the easiest ‘yes’ Alexis has ever given. Each chapter of Alexis & Gavin’s love story has been an adventure for them – they cannot wait to write this next one with you.