The story starts thanks to their older sisters! Rachel’s sister started going to the same high school school as Elijah’s when he was 11 and his future wife was 12. Through that friendship Elijah and Rachel became mutual family friends. For some time, they only saw each other on the rare occasion that the antisocial Rachel went to one of their school events and church camps, so Elijah had to get creative with finding ways to talk to her. Eventually he got her number and their friendship became more than mutual. It grew for several years before things finally fell into place and they started dating at 17 and 18. Elijah managed to wait a whole two weeks before blurting out the first “I love you.” The wedding was just a matter of time at this point…

After almost three years of dating and lots of prayerful discernment together, Elijah asked Rachel one Friday night after their weekly movie date if she felt they were ready for the next step. Rachel told him she was ready. That night, before she went to bed, her mom poked her head into her room and asked “Why the heck is your boyfriend here talking to your father at 10 pm?” He wasted absolutely zero time getting permission, and told Rachel “don’t worry, you’ll still be surprised when I ask.” She figured he would wait until their fancy Valentines date next weekend. Not even two hours passed before he popped the question as a way to attack her in their Dungeons and Dragons game with his siblings. The verdict: yes, Rachel was very surprised, and she agreed to marry him in the same living room where he asked her out for their first date. We're so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you. See you in April!