The Full Story
Alex & Rod
On August 16, 2014, Alex and Rod had their first date – dinner in Falls Church, Virginia – and their lives would never be the same. They will marry on August 16, 2024, in a small private ceremony, exactly ten years from the day they met.
The decade in-between has been an unforgettable journey in their relationship and a tremendous period of progress for LGBTQ rights in the United States. On June 26, 2015, Alex and Rod stood on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court when the Obergefell decision was announced, legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide for the first time in U.S. history. An emotional photo of the couple was featured on CNN and multiple other news outlets capturing the incredible emotion of the moment.
On December 13, 2022, at the Respect for Marriage Act bill signing on the south lawn of the White House, Rod asked Alex to spend the rest of their lives together on another momentous day for LGBTQ rights. This important law signed by President Biden ensures that the federal government will continue to recognize same-sex marriage, particularly if the Obergafell decision is ever challenged and overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Alex and Rod have spent the decade between West Virginia and Washington, DC, passing through Union Station on the MARC train nearly every single day. In fact, they chose Union Station as the setting for of their engagement photos to capture the significance of the iconic station as a centerpiece of their dual life in the city and the country. They’ve also prioritized international travel, visiting a total of 27 countries together since their relationship began. In fact, they headed off to London and Paris only three months after their first date. The romantic world tour has never stopped.
Within the first few weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alex and Rod welcomed Truman into their family, a small white and copper Cockapoo puppy with a blind eye and an adorable underbite. He joined his brother Billy, the senior farm cat, at Wildwood Farm until Billy crossed the rainbow bridge in April 2023.
Alex and Rod have chosen to get married at the Barn at York Hill, a property that was built and inhabited by Rod’s family from the 1790s until the 1930s. The barn was completed in 1812 by the Snyder family, and this wedding adds one more piece to two centuries of family history.
The couple looks forward to celebrating their wedding with family and friends at a Garden Party Reception at York Hill on Saturday, August 17, 2024.
