This story is written primarily by Bradley

I (Bradley) had been attempting to wade through the new world of online dating for a short time but after a few dates (with very little connection) I wasn't making much progress. In all honesty, I was ready to put it down for a while. I decided to give it just a bit more time, when one night, I came across a rare profile. What made it rare is that this particular woman's dating profile was not flashy; the language she used to describe herself did not feel forced or fake, and she expressed genuine concern about all the things that matter: faith in the Lord, a love of Scripture, family, friends, and life. In an online dating world where so many people try to hide parts of their lives, Victoria leaned into the things she values. Little did I know she would end up changing my life in so many ways. I distinctly remember seeing that she was a mere "30 miles away" from me on the dating app when I sent my "Super Like" off into the ether. I also remember the startling confusion the following day when I then saw that she was now over 100 miles away from me! "Confused" because we were not supposed to be seeing dating profiles that far away. We both still laugh and are amazed that our connection occurred while she was traveling back from a wedding in Memphis. Still, we were willing to see what would happen. Our first bit of confirmation that we were on to something occurred after we exchanged phone numbers and shared a 6-hour FaceTime call...neither of us noticed until several hours in. That's why I say "providential." Sometimes the Lord has plans and creates amazing opportunities for people that they didn't see coming. Anyway, that's how this whole wonderful thing got started. It's what led two people to meet, become best friends, fall in love, and make plans to get married.

When you develop a seemingly instant connection with someone, barriers (like being separated by over 100 miles) just have less significance. We agreed to go on a date, and I was more than willing to make the trip. So I woke up early on a Thursday morning and hit the road toward Nashville. We met and started the date at Preservation Park in Thompson's Station (see proposal photos). We hiked around talking about life, church, beliefs, and everything in between. Tacos for lunch, followed by coffee-shop-conversation kept the date going. It wasn't until we stopped at another local park that I hit a hurdle. An allergic reaction resulted in an uncontrollable runny nose and watery eyes did NOT give my face a romantic glisten, I'm sure. Victoria loved that I was willing to keep going. Pizza for dinner and a drive back to Preservation Park capped off a 10-hour first date. The entire drive back home I kept having a thought: "I'm in trouble!" Seeing her again couldn't happen fast enough.

Over the next several months, Victoria and I shared weekly dates, regular video calls, and many hours spent learning more about each other. Meeting family members, friends, church communities, and experiencing new places with one another led to a closeness neither of us had experienced before. We danced, cooked, played games, said "I love you," and spent countless hours discovering more. We often reflect on this time and still can't believe how the time has flown. For me, it wasn't about "If" I would ask her to marry me, but "When."

So, here we are. Counting down the days until we say "I do." It's been an incredible journey. One full of joy, laughter, and love. Victoria and I can't wait to share this day with all of our family and friends. We look forward to seeing everyone who can come on that special November day. We pray that the Lord continues to bless our families through this celebration of marriage.