Some love stories begin with a whirlwind romance.
Tom and Ali’s began with five years of working together.
They met while working for the same company and spent years knowing one another before their relationship ever became romantic. And apparently, Tom noticed Ali right away.
When asked for his first impression of her, his answer was wonderfully straightforward:
“Oh la la.”
Ali’s first impression had a few more layers. She thought Tom was cute and funny, although she admits another coworker had slightly poisoned her against him beforehand.
Thankfully, first impressions aren’t always the final word.
Because somewhere during those five years of working together, something changed. And once it did, their relationship unfolded in a way that both of them describe as incredibly natural.
From Coworkers to Something More
Tom and Ali didn’t really have a traditional first date.
The first time they spent time together romantically, Tom simply came over to Ali’s house and they hung out.
No elaborate plans. No fancy restaurant. No carefully orchestrated first-date moment.
And according to Tom, Ali’s dog loved him immediately, which feels like a pretty solid endorsement.
When they eventually ventured out together with friends, there was one small complication: those friends were also coworkers, and Tom and Ali weren’t quite ready for everyone at work to know they were dating.
So for a while, their relationship remained their own little secret.
Eventually, they told HR—and even that became part of the story, with their HR director chuckling when they finally revealed what had been going on.
Looking back, that easy beginning seems pretty fitting for the two of them.
Ali describes their relationship in three words:
Quirky. Natural. Loving.
And “natural” may be the perfect word for their entire story.
The “Duh, Of Course This Is My Person” Kind of Love
There wasn’t one dramatic moment when Ali suddenly realized Tom was the person she wanted to spend her life with.
Instead, she describes it as a “duh” moment.
Of course this was her person.
Their relationship had developed so naturally that the realization wasn’t some giant revelation. It was simply recognizing something that already felt true.
Tom’s answer was considerably more immediate.
When did he realize Ali was his person?
“The moment I laid eyes on her.”
Well then.
Apparently “oh la la” had some staying power.
A Proposal That Was Perfectly Them
Their decision to get married followed much the same pattern as the rest of their relationship.
There wasn’t a traditional proposal.
Instead, one weekend Tom and Ali were sitting together on the couch, their animals surrounding them, watching Netflix and talking about their future.
And somewhere in that conversation, they decided:
We’re doing this. We’re getting married.
Tom explained that their relationship hadn’t followed a particularly traditional path anyway, so they were perfectly comfortable doing things a little out of order.
And really, there is something incredibly romantic about that.
Marriage wasn’t a question sprung on one person by the other.
It was a future they arrived at together.
Why a Kentucky Waterfall Felt So Right
For two people who love being outdoors, traveling, spending time by the water and exploring new places together, a waterfall elopement feels almost ridiculously appropriate.
Tom loves camping, hunting and water sports, and his dream date with Ali would be traveling to a new country and exploring somewhere completely new together.
Ali’s version of a perfect day involves being by the water, playing with their dogs, taking a cooking class and eventually relaxing beside a fire.
These are two people who don’t need an elaborate production to enjoy being together.
Give them somewhere beautiful, something to experience and each other’s company, and they’re pretty happy.
And that is one of the reasons intimate weddings and elopements can be so special.
Your wedding location doesn’t simply have to be a pretty backdrop.
It can actually feel like you.
For couples drawn to adventure, nature and experiences over tradition, a Kentucky waterfall elopement can turn the wedding day itself into part of the adventure.
The Little Things That Make a Life Together
Ask Tom what he loves about Ali and you’ll get one answer that probably shouldn’t make it into a sentimental wedding blog…
…followed by the things that absolutely should. 😂
Her kind heart. Her loving eyes. The way she cares so deeply for others.
He especially admires Ali’s ability to love people—and animals—so freely. She volunteers, helps others without hesitation and has a heart that naturally reaches beyond herself.
Ali loves Tom’s ability to make her laugh, the way he supports her, and the fact that he can somehow make her smile even when he’s being super annoying.
She admires his intellect and how readily he shows up for the people he loves.
And apparently, these two are big cuddlers.
Tom says Ali always wants to cuddle.
Ali says Tom never turns down her need to cuddle.
So at least they’ve got that worked out.
The Kind of Love Ali Didn’t Know Existed
Of everything Tom and Ali shared about their relationship, though, there was one thing Ali said that beautifully summed up what they’ve found in one another.
For a long time, she couldn’t understand how two people could spend their entire lives together without eventually getting bored.
How could you possibly always have something to talk about?
How could you spend that much time with one person?
Then she met Tom.
Now, she gets it.
They always have fun together. They always have something to talk about. Everything simply clicks.
She even admitted that when Tom leaves the room, she misses him immediately.
Corny?
Maybe a little.
But that’s also the good stuff.
An Elopement That Felt Like Them
That’s ultimately what I love about elopements like Tom and Ali’s.
The goal isn’t to recreate a traditional wedding on a smaller scale.
It’s to strip away all the things a couple doesn’t actually care about and make room for the things they do.
For Tom and Ali, their relationship has never been particularly concerned with doing things in the expected order.
Coworkers became friends.
Friends became something more.
A first date was simply hanging out at home.
A proposal was a conversation on the couch.
And eventually, two people from Michigan found themselves standing together beside a Kentucky waterfall, getting married.
Not because it was the traditional way to do it.
Because it felt right.
And after five years of knowing each other before they even started dating, countless cuddles, adventures, Facebook Reels, dogs, laughter, Netflix nights and one very enthusiastic “oh la la,” Tom and Ali seem to have figured out something pretty important:
Sometimes finding your person doesn’t feel like a lightning bolt.
Sometimes it just feels like coming home.
Planning Your Own Kentucky Waterfall Elopement?
If the thought of trading a ballroom for rushing water, trees, trails and a little adventure sounds more like you, Kentucky has some incredible places for an intimate wedding.
Elope Lexington helps couples create simple, meaningful Kentucky elopements and micro weddings throughout Lexington, Central Kentucky and beyond—including waterfall ceremonies for couples who aren’t afraid to get their shoes a little dirty.
Because your wedding doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s.
It just needs to feel like yours.