On a random evening during the COVID shutdown era—specifically August 2, 2020—I got a FaceTime from my beloved friend, Lainey Fallon. She and her new husband, Sam, were on their "mini-moon”. They were celebrating their elopement in Telluride, where they met a bartender named Alex. They enjoyed his company so much they kept visiting him for drinks and fun.

Before leaving Telluride for the final time, Alex asked Lainey and Sam if they had any friends they'd like to introduce him to. That’s when my phone rang.

Now, random FaceTime calls aren’t something I usually accept—unless it's from a trusted best friend (as many of my friends know, a surprise FaceTime from me could be a scary sight to behold). But I answered. On the other end were love-struck newlyweds and some long-haired mountain man. Lainey introduced me to Alex, their favorite bartender from Telluride, and I said hello. He wasn’t just any guy—he had this Fabio-meets-Tarzan vibe, with an air of free-spiritedness that intrigued me. So, I let him have my number.

From that night forward, Alex called me every single evening. Our calls ranged from 15 minutes to two hours. He lived outside of Telluride in a spot without service, so he’d call me right after work, before heading back to his little shack by the river. There was something different about him. He had a Southern accent and very firm opinions—sometimes I'd think, "Who does this guy think he is?" He seemed to know everything, and of course, I had to correct him. We debated everything, often playing devil’s advocate for each other, challenging our views while unknowingly building a connection.

As time passed, I shared deeper parts of myself. I figured, if this was going to be something real, I might as well be upfront—like how important my faith in Jesus is. After a couple of months of nightly calls, we both knew the big moment was coming: we would finally meet in person over Labor Day weekend in Telluride.

I’ll never forget that day. The weather was perfect—late summer sunshine, not a cloud in the sky. We planned to meet at a tea shop in town. As I wandered around, scanning for a long-haired mountain man, I finally spotted him. And wow—what a handsome guy! We had tea and soaked in the two months of anticipation. He was a little rough around the edges, and I couldn’t quite read him. Was he into me? Was he not? I experienced every emotion a woman could have in that scenario.

Later, we went to a sports bar where I had to reveal a secret: I had money on a Celtics game. Yep, sports gambling—my guilty pleasure. I figured, surely this mountain man who lives by a river isn’t into sports. Boy, was I wrong. Not only did he love sports, but as an Oklahoma University alum, he had the fandom to prove it. Turns out, Alex dabbled in sports betting, too. Since then, we've opened a joint gambling account, and honestly, we've done pretty well for ourselves. Shoutout to the Lions—they've been good to us since day one.

From that first weekend, we knew this was something real. Alex would drive six hours from Telluride to Denver just to spend a couple of days with me. That kind of effort made me feel so loved. By my birthday in May 2021, I knew I loved him. Not only does he treat me like a princess and is my best friend, but he’s also kind, steadfast, true, noble, and sweet.

Eventually, Alex moved to Denver to be closer to me, leaving behind his free-spirited mountain man lifestyle. After a couple of years filled with love, adventures, and countless sports bets, he proposed on August 10, 2024.

Since being together, we've traveled to Cabo four times. It's a special place for us, filled with joy and freedom—which is why it only felt right to get married there, on the beach, surrounded by the people we love most.

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!