Our Story
Emily Cole
Bride
I have always tried to build love out of inadequate materials. Like a botched quilt, every attempt fell apart. By the time I finished college, I was disenchanted, convinced that the love I longed for didn’t exist. A year after graduation, I felt a pull toward leadership in the church and I started a young adults' Bible study with my co-leader, Kevin. It was through this leadership that Eric and I crossed paths. It wasn’t our first meeting, however. Back in college, friends had insisted we’d be great together. I met him briefly outside a Subway, but I never thought twice about it—until the day he joined our group. Something about his mannerisms captivated me. He was warm yet mysterious, gentle yet strong. And I wasn’t alone in noticing—or so I thought. Determined not to be “like the others,” I vowed not to catch feelings. I know, so very edgy. The next few months became the greatest game of emotional tug-of-war. My stubborn mind resisted, but my even more stubborn heart was already his. Finally, I caved. I knew this was the man I was going to marry. I practically ran to his door step, professed my love, and his response was unbelievable. He simply said... "No." Yes, you read that right. Before you send Eric an angry text, let me explain that this undoubtedly was God's perfect and Holy timing. I needed to learn to abide fully in Jesus before I could have ever made a good partner. Long story short, here we are. Madly in love, and blessed beyond measure.
Eric Allen
Groom
(Read Emily's first) For those of us that know Emily, we know that she commands a room - not with authority - but with love, charm, gasps, cheers, and random noises of approval or discouragement. She is the color that paints a place, and it was impossible to keep my every move from being motivated by her. I wanted to be on the receiving end of her - be it her reactions, intellectual thoughts, or her life-filled "slay, slay, hooray" (which means, 'this has my FULL stamp of approval'). So Eric, why did you say "No"? I told her "No", because I was NOT interested in a relationship with anyone. With law school on the horizon and my future in the unknown, who was I to pursue someone while having such little of my life together? I mean, just LOOK at her! She's smart, breathtakingly gorgeous, well-admired, spiritually sharp - How could I? After my "No", I wondered, "How could I NOT?" I then spent the ENTIRE weekend in a nonstop mental gridlock where I understood: this is the kind of woman that I have wanted my whole life - why do I not feel ready for her? Days later, I stopped her from pulling out of the parking lot after church and asked - nay, BEGGED: "I have been in agony since you left my doorstep; please let me take you on a date and don't let me live with my mistake of telling you 'No.'" She said the 3rd most important "yes" ever on that day, the 2nd almost a year later, and I cannot wait for you to be there to hear her give me the MOST important "Yes" this coming May.
