Our story
What a wild ride!
We’ve been together for about 3 1/2 years now and it seems like just yesterday, but also forever at the same time. Alex has laughed about the idea of his mom “setting him up” with any one…but really she is a key piece to how our paths crossed!
I started working at ADRC in 2015, and Alex’s mom (Kim) works there in another department.
My team expanded and we had to hire, so Holly (Kim’s daughter/Alex’s sister), applied and got the job!
We had our “first sighting” of each other in 2016 at an annual MS Walk, but other than maybe a “hi” and “bye”…and maybe a comment on each other’s dog, nothing note worthy. In Summer/Fall 2018, Steph and Holly started hanging out more and more which meant game nights, dinners, and (what turned out to be) a few family get togethers… lo and behold, the stars aligned again!
1st Date
March 7th was our first official date at Main Street Bourbon Room (MSBR).
(Trial runs were at SAP, MOOOOOSE, some Martini Lounge, and Zambaldi)
Shit got serious
COVID hit two weeks after our 1st date – naturally we chose each other to be the “one” person you could see. Steph moved in with Alex officially in June 2020.
Let's do it
We had the talks for awhile. Steph thought it would be cute to “take the leap” next (leap) year, and Alex said that was stupid to wait so long…so here we are!
Our timeline
Note: The pictures are not related to the text.
Spring – Fall 2019
REgular Game Nights & Breweries
Throughout spring and summer of 2019, there were few times where we were around each other at game nights, at a brewery, or at dinner (including the first time I tried sushi…I’m still trying to like it!)
It was becoming more and more frequent of us hanging out in group settings, but nothing really more than that. In September, I noticed I was getting excited about being around him, but didn’t think much of it…chalked it up to a silly crush on my friend’s brother.
Nov 2019
Dell’s Trip kicked it off (for steph)
Holly had a large group of friends get together at the Wilderness in the Dells and invited me along. I only really knew her, Nate, Alex, and Benjamin at the time, but it sounded like fun so I decided to go.
It was one of those light switch moments in life. I knew it was him that I wanted to explore doing life with.
So after probably a week or so, I talked to Holly about her feelings on me potentially asking out her brother – she was on board and excitement built!
January 2020
Alex took 3 kidney punches to “get it”
I confided in a close friend (Angela) about my, now major, crush on Alex.
One drunk game night, we were promised a visit from Ang’s alter ego, the Queen of England, if we fed her Fireball…so we did. But instead we ended up with a champion fighter who interrogated Alex about his relationship status (not so discreetly- loud whispering behind my back…literally we were sitting on the same couch). She must not have liked his answer so she did what she does best, fights for those she loves (me!) and decided to punch him multiple times. (Holly very politely put her to bed after this incident!)
I was mortified.
I messaged Alex the next day apologizing for the Queen’s behavior.
And that’s when Alex’s lightbulb went off…
End of Feb 2020
Trial run 1 & 1.5
We hung out almost every weekend in group settings and the end of February brought an opportunity for each of us to have a trial run of a date without being so obvious to the other. (Hah. Yeah right!)
I was planning to drop-off and pick-up Holly and Nate from the Appleton airport. Alex and Joey hitched a ride and we all stopped for ice cream before sending them off on their way. After dropping Alex and Joey off, Alex offered to ride along when I picked them up. One of my favorite restaurants is SAP in Appleton, so there was a caveat that we would be getting dinner first. The flight was pretty early in the night so we all planned to go to Player 2 after.
But then the flight was delayed by hours and Alex and I had to find a way to kill time, so we headed to a martini lounge and watched a live band, MOOOOSE.
March 2nd 2020
Trial run 2
I was being a responsible adult getting ready to file my taxes at my Grandparent’s house. After about 15 minutes of being there (and shoving my face with Grandma’s chocolate chip cookies), I looked down at my phone and saw a text from Alex. “…you up to anything tonight? I was thinking of swinging over to Zambaldi’s tonight for a beer if you’d like to join. They’re putting money towards Happily Ever After animal sanctuary.”
“F***” blurted out of my mouth and I thought Grandma was going to fall over. I told her the guy I had a crush on asked me to go grab a beer with him…her response was perfect: “I’m so happy. Go have fun, taxes can wait!”
She then asked about him…but one question still sticks out, and I didn’t lie, because it wasn’t true at the time, but sorry Grandma, he DOES have long hair! Hehehe.
I ran home to change into not work clothes and met him at Zambaldi’s. From there, it was obvious to both of us that there was something more…we made plans to go on an official date that weekend.
March 7th 2020
1st official date at MSBR (Main St Bourbon Room)
Now, many of you know my nickname “Messy Stephie”…well, Alex got to witness that first-hand. I didn’t know what to order, nor what it was, but decided a cubano sandwich was a good idea. Mustard was literally all over her face and hands.
Alex laughed it off and kept the napkins coming…he is still so sweet and accommodating, and has declared these adventures as “dinner with a show”…which he get’s almost every time I’m in the kitchen.
March 23rd 2020
Shit Got serious
Only about two weeks in to exploring a relationship, and the pandemic hit.
We joked that we broke the world and it couldn’t handle us being together… so naturally we decided to choose each other as the “one person” you could be around in these crazy times.
In June, my lease was up, and with spending more and more time together, we did something crazy and chose to live together after not even a full 3 months.
The rest is a blur
Let’s do it
We talked about the future, what that could look like, and Alex beat around the bush a few times of the idea of getting married. I was scared and usually changed the subject. (Like, it jokingly came up within 6 months of dating – now THAT was crazy… so I thought at the time.)
Then a last minute planned camping trip in October 2021, Alex had a more serious look on his face when inquiring about it…and we both agreed it was what we would want eventually but didn’t have a timeline or rush to do anything about it.
More conversations took place on and off, and in December of 2022, I threw out the idea of getting married in 2024 since it’s a leap year, and that way we can always plan to take a big trip every leap year. Alex’s answer was “That is stupid. Why don’t we not wait that long, and still plan to take a big trip every few years?”
So that December night (couldn’t even tell you the date!) is when we decided to plan to make it official.
July 22 2023
We’re doing it
After talking about plans, we both realized we did not want anything traditional or fancy…so any idea of a “wedding” you have, throw it out the window!
This is a celebration of love. We are so excited to share our love of each other, food, beer, and music, with all of you.
RSVP
Alex & Steph
Text Steph (920) 309-5353
steph@popbees.buzz
LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!
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