Rooted in love since June 2nd, 2018

Chris and I actually met in high school. Back then I had a bit of a teenage crush on him. He was the skater boy type, a grade older than me, and unfortunately for my teenage self… he wasn’t interested. I probably didn’t take the hint very gracefully either, because at one point he even deleted me on Facebook. At the time it felt like the end of that story, but looking back now, maybe it was just the beginning. After graduation we both went our separate ways to college, spending a few years growing up and figuring out who we were and what we wanted from life. Eventually we both ended up back home for a while, saving money and preparing for whatever came next. Then one day, completely out of the blue, Chris sent me a friend request on Facebook. I’ll be honest, I didn’t accept it right away. Seeing his name brought that old high school crush rushing back, so naturally I did what anyone would do… I investigated his Facebook first. Somewhere along the way he had traded the “skater boy” look for something a little more grown up, and suddenly I found myself nervous. He hadn’t been interested back then, so why now? I figured maybe he just had a question about something and decided to wait before accepting. But fate apparently had other plans… I dropped my phone, and somehow when it hit the floor it accepted his friend request and sent him the little Facebook “wave.” Back then there was no way to undo it, so the message was out there whether I meant to send it or not. Since there was no going back, we started talking. Not long after, Chris came down to visit and help me work on my apartment. What was supposed to be a quick visit turned into something neither of us expected. We ended up staying up the entire night talking, about life, the years since high school, the experiences that shaped us, and the people we were becoming. The hours disappeared as we shared stories, struggles, and dreams we don’t usually show the world. Before we knew it, the sun was rising and we were heading out to breakfast, still talking like two people who had known each other forever. Something about that night just clicked. It wasn’t dramatic or overwhelming like in the movies, it felt calm, familiar, and deeply right. Like finding a missing piece of yourself you didn’t even realize was gone. We often joke that we haven’t really spent a day apart since then, and honestly that’s not far from the truth. Of course, like any real love story, the years since haven’t been without challenges. Life has brought moments that tested us and seasons that asked us to grow. But instead of pulling us apart, those moments rooted us deeper. They reminded us that the best kind of love isn’t perfect, it’s resilient. One of the things that means the most to us is where we’re choosing to begin this next chapter. The land where we’ll say “I do” is more than just where we live, it’s a place filled with memories, meaning, and a deep sense of home. It’s where we feel grounded, where we’ve built our lives together, and where we’ll continue building the future we’ve dreamed about. Starting our marriage here, surrounded by nature, animals, family, and the people we love most, feels incredibly special. After eight years of growing together and walking through life side by side, we’re so grateful for the journey that brought us here. And the timing feels a little magical too, because if you turn the number eight on its side, it becomes the symbol for infinity. Eight years of love led us here. And now our infinity begins.