In March 2020, the pandemic canceled our first date. Instead, we became modern pen pals, sharing deep conversations and handwritten letters, building a meaningful friendship before ever meeting. Life took us in separate directions, but we stayed close. Five years later, the timing was finally right. We started dating, got engaged just two months later, and discovered that the best love stories are worth the wait.

Our favorite memory is getting engaged in Las Vegas. We were jet-lagged, so we were up early and had the city almost entirely to ourselves. We grabbed breakfast, started talking about our future, and by the end of the conversation realized we'd just gotten engaged. The best part? Desmond handmade the engagement ring out of a piece of sea glass from Allie’s childhood beach.

We're getting married in just two months and are paying for most of the wedding ourselves. We've planned a day that's true to us at a beautiful flower farm, and winning $20,000 would help make that celebration possible without the financial stress. Beyond the wedding, the remaining funds would go toward school, as Allie has just achieved her dream of getting into a graduate program. These funds would help us start our marriage while investing in our future together.