How many couples do you know who dated for two weeks, then flew to opposite ends of the world, started their relationship thousands of miles from each other, and then decided to get married 3 months after first meeting each other? Well, that's us.


That might sound a bit crazy, but when you consider that our first date lasted 8 hours, and that our fifth date was a trip away together, it starts to make sense. After only our third date, Ilse said that she had to go back to Mexico to take care of her sick mother. Though it was only our third date, the surprising pain this caused us made it clear to both of us that this could be special. Later that week, after we spent a weekend away together, Ilse flew back to Mexico not knowing if she would come back, and Alex left for Japan the same day.


We kept in touch, and after Alex returned from Japan a few weeks later, he decided that no matter where she is in the world, he wants to give this a shot. So, being the romantics (some would say crazy) that we are, we started a long distance relationship. During the months Ilse was in Mexico, we found a routine: We would start texting or calling the second she woke up, and we would finish with him falling asleep with his phone in his hands.


Eventually, Ilse returned to Ireland, and since that fateful day that we reunited at the airport, we have been inseparable. We eat, drink, love, sleep and plan together. We travel. Often. Since her return 6 months ago, we have ridden gondolas in Venice, gotten engaged in Lisbon's morning light, spent her birthday in Copenhagen, and Christmas in Sweden. We are the love story you see in movies. And now we want our movie wedding.