Alex & Ash
AlexAmodol
&AshKurtzFreilich
May112025
Fredon Township, NJ
Our Story
How We Met
As many of you know, we met playing (the sport formerly known as) quidditch. We were friends for 4 years before we started dating and the way we got together was very sweet, and a little silly.
The Facts:
Ash was having a bar crawl for their birthday and invited Alex to come (as they did every year). Alex was going to come, but hurt his ankle at a tournament that day, and wasn't sure he'd make it. Alex told Ash he was at his parents' house in south Jersey. Ash was a little disappointed as they were looking forward to seeing him (as a friend).
Alex and Ash had flirted before, but nothing further. Alex had sent Ash a message about a year before after they had been up late at a party chatting saying he wanted to kiss them. Ash was asleep (and awkward) so never answered.
On Ash's birthday, Ash told Alex that they had something they wanted to tell him, but they weren't drunk enough yet. After a few hours, Ash told Alex they wouldn't have necessarily minded so much if he had kissed them. Alex promptly told Ash he was coming up to see them. Alex drove for almost an hour late at night to meet up with Ash, give them a kiss, wish them "Happy Birthday," and then he LEFT. (What a gentleman!) About a month later, Alex and Ash officially started dating, and the rest is history!
The Inconsistencies:
1) Ash doesn't drink enough to get drunk. Like, ever.
2) Alex was at a friend's house in NORTH Jersey playing board games.
3) Alex insists Ash "slid into his DMs" by asking if he was coming to the bar crawl. Ash insists they were just chatting as friends. Alex reminds Ash that this was not a thing they had ever done before. Ash is steadfast in that they were just trying to get a headcount for the evening. The world may never know.
The Proposal
Ash's family takes a trip every summer. Alex has joined for the last few years. The family trip for Summer 2023 was to Italy. They traveled all over the country and visited several different cities. Alex had acquired the ring some time before the trip and delivered it to Ash's parents for safekeeping. The ring came to Italy with the parents, unbeknownst to Ash. Alex had not yet decided where to do the proposal, but was leaning towards Venice.
However, when the family was in Florence, it became clear that this was Ash's favorite city in the country. The tour that was scheduled only visited a few places and Ash knew there was so much more to see. After the tour, Ash spent an entire evening planning a walking tour of all their favorite places in Florence. Apparently, this was a hint to Alex. The walking tour went all over the city and ended in Ash's most favorite place of them all - Piazzale Michelangelo. This plaza had the most beautiful hilltop views of Florence and the surrounding countryside. Everyone trekked up the hill to the site (with Alex secretly trembling with nerves!) to the top to see the views. Thunder rolled in the distance and everyone wondered if they were about to get poured on. Some pictures were taken and then Alex and Ash stood looking out over the city.
Alex pointed out a brick patio slightly below them and suggested it would be a good place to take more pictures (sneaky!). Everyone walked down the steps to the patio, both of Ash's parents well-aware of what was about to happen, Ash completely oblivious. Ash and Alex stood next to the railing while Ash's father took some pictures, or so Ash thought. Then, Alex turns to Ash and says "I was going to wait until Venice, but you love Florence so much so-" while bending down. Ash, classy as ever, says, "Wait what are you doing, wait, no!" as Alex opens the box and... DROPS THE RING. Luckily the ring didn't bounce too far.
As Alex looked up at Ash, the sun broke through the clouds and a sun shower started. Was the weather a paid actor? We'll never know. People clapped, Ash cried, and the recovered ring was placed onto Ash's hand. And the rest, as they say, is history!
(Except for every time one of these lovestruck fools jokingly tries to take it back. At least once a week, if not more.)