Taking cute and fun to a new level!

Jason knew he had met someone special after getting introduced briefly to Alissa at a party. So instead of waiting for another chance encounter, he did something not many guys do - he asked her out for a coffee date. Alissa got a blueberry tea and Jason got a black cup of coffee. They immediately hit it off, Alissa struck by his funny and charming personality and Jason feeling similar about Alissa's bubbly...personality. They knew they would want to meet up again, but first, Alissa had to go to field hockey practice and Jason had to go to gymnastics (he's still flexible to this day). After a few more college style dates (think Jimmy Johns), Jason was so excited to have a girlfriend! Alissa had even introduced him to her parents, some would say kind of too early. There was just one problem, he had forgotten to officially ask her out. So, that summer when Jason had flown all the way out from NJ to Colorado to visit Alissa, she had to ask him if they were dating, to which Jason replied, "I wouldn't have flown all the way out here if I wasn't in love with you!" Which was absolutely true, because no one should fly United economy in a middle seat for 4 hours unless it's for love. Jason and Alissa continued to date through college, even spending a semester apart when Alissa went abroad to Florence to have a good time and Jason spent a semester in Los Angeles working, because you need money to invest in the S&P500. But when they got back to college to continue their relationship, there was a huge problem... It was a Friday night and Jason had taken Alissa to one of his favorite spots, David's Falafel, which admittedly, was a bit run down but they had a decent hummus. It had been the latest of a string of dates around Syracuse that were simply not up to Alissa's standard. She laid down an ultimatum: "If you want to date me long term everything we do has to be cute and fun." Many men would have brushed past this, but no, Jason was exalted. No relationship advice had been said clearer. Make it cute and fun. Simple. Easy. Beautiful. From there, he knew what to do. Nice weekend trips to Skaneateles (a very cute town in upstate New York). Special home cooked date nights at his apartment (so fun). Snazzy dinner at a downtown brewery! Their relationship quickly reached new heights. And they say the rest is history. Literally. After college Jason got a job at The History Channel and Alissa got a job at JP Morgan. Both in NYC. After a few years where Alissa experienced NYC culture that doesn't need to be mentioned here (like when she fell in love with spicy lamb szechuan noodles only to get food poisoning which was a horrific event, never to be discussed again, except here, on Zola) they were finally ready to take the step and move in together. But then the pandemic happened! This would serve as the ultimate test to their relationship as Jason and Alissa would have to navigate first living with Jason's family in New Jersey, then Alissa's family in Colorado. We could share details about what that was like here, but just know that it's often the hardest tests to a relationship that make two people realize they are meant to be together forever. It's been a few years, a move from NYC to Denver, but their love has never been stronger. And they're excited to have you celebrate their love with them at their wedding. It's going to be cute and fun. That's a promise.