We're getting married!

John Lennon said it best: Life is what happens while you're making other plans! In Abbey and John's case, those other plans were simple -- John needed a haircut! He wanted to look good for an upcoming trip to Chicago to see his beloved Cubs, and the discussion in the stylist's chair turned to romance. By the end of the appointment, Meagan was sure she had the person for John to meet! She texted Abbey -- whom she had met months earlier in a class at Madonna University and hadn't seen since-- a photo of John and asked if her former classmate wanted to go on a date with the guy in the picture! Abbey took a chance and said that the guy in the snapshot could message her on Facebook. That led to a series of emails of which both Abbey and John still have copies, and John asked Abbey to dinner. John was smitten from the moment he saw the beautiful woman in a polka dot dress and Judy Garland-red shoes waiting for him in the lobby of Hayden's in Canton. When "Despicable Me 2" ended a few hours later, he knew he wanted to see Abbey again. She thankfully said yes, and the story went on! The relationship survived some early hiccups -- like Abbey finding out that John THOUGHT he knew about musical theater because he'd seen "Phantom" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," and John finding out that Abbey cheered for (gulp) Michigan football. Our five-year romance has seen its share of blessings. We have both been welcomed into the hearts of each others' families and been given the gift of each others' good friends, new and old. We've even shared the joys of pet parenthood as Abbey's cat Beatrice embraced our blended family by head-butting and snuggling her way into John's heart. We have become for each other the best of what love is. What began as a blind -- or texted picture -- date has become for each of us the discovery of a soulmate, best friend, partner, and true love for a lifetime. We are so excited to have you share this day and our lives with us.