Dear friends & family, Merritt and I first met the summer of 2024. I was co-leading a Bible Study hosted at his house, and our paths crossed a couple times in the Fellowship young adult circles. We chatted here and there but neither of us thought much of it (I actually think we were both trying to date other people at the time…so it goes). HOWEVER everything changed for me when Merritt agreed to start volunteering with the special needs adult ministry community events at our church. I have been planning these events once a month for years, and it is a ministry near and dear to my soul. Anyways, Merritt informed me he would be coming to our August bowling night, and I jokingly texted my mom that “I think I might automatically be in love with him…oops” (that aged well). After that event, it was evident to me that he was extremely genuine and loved people well…plus he was like, weirdly good at bowling; I officially had a crush. He came to a few more events and we had a few good conversations, but I couldn’t get a good read if he liked me or not. Then I didn’t see him much for a few months and he snubbed me at church (ON MY BIRTHDAY NO LESS). I decided this door was officially closed, and it was time for me to pick up my (newly 25 year-old) self and move on. UNTIL a Gossip Girl themed Friendsgiving on November 9, 2024. We talked for hours that night about music and artists we like (another crucial way to my heart). He recommended a song to me that I listened to literally 92 times in the next year (thanks Spotify wrapped). A few weeks later he called to ask me on our first date (December 12, 2024). We went to Tavola and walked around downtown to see the Christmas lights, and I was living my best Hallmark life. Our third date was an all day adventure to Silver Dollar City just after Christmas (no pressure though). We spent hours upon hours talking as we waited for rides (literally I don’t think SDC has ever been more busy) and by the end of the day I knew for sure I wanted to date him. He asked me to be his girlfriend on January 18, 2025 (after I had a minor freak out about what to tell people about our “status” at a wedding we were going to the next day lol). I learned quickly that Merritt is very intentional with his actions and words. He has always cared for me with gentleness and consistency, and has complimented me specifically; but he was waiting until he proposed to say “I love you”. That day came as a blindsiding surprise to me (thanks to the insane planning, work, and acting skills of Merritt and Alyssa Frager) on February 14, 2026. It started with a rainy 8k, ended with a party including the sweetest friends and family from near and far, and had a very elaborate story about a couch on Facebook Marketplace in the middle :). The whole day was genuinely one of the most loving acts anyone has ever done for me, and even though in all the nerves Merritt did initially forget to finally tell me he loved me, it was the most perfect day of my life so far. 🤍 And that brings us to the present! We are happily wedding planning and dreaming of starting our life together. God’s faithfulness has been so deeply apparent to both of us through all of this, and we couldn’t be more grateful. We can’t wait for our story to continue…and we want you all to be a part of it on November 21, 2026!! Until then… Much love, Alyssa & Merritt