Alex and Katelyn first met in 2019 on a backpacking trip with their Oceanhills youth group in Big Sur, California. While they initially saw each other as just friends, those around them, especially Katelyn’s sister Haley, were quick to notice something more. After a year of pushing off the inevitable, Alex and Katelyn finally acknowledged their feelings and began dating in the summer of 2020. Over the past five and a half years, much of their relationship has been long-distance, with Alex attending Cal Poly and Katelyn attending Pepperdine. Despite the miles between them, their love has only grown stronger. They have learned to cheer each other on through late-night studying, time apart during study-abroad adventures, and seasons of growth in friendships and faith. Throughout it all, they have trusted God’s guidance and faithfulness, building their relationship on Him. This past June, Alex proposed down by the water in Big Sur, at Katelyn’s favorite place in the world, a spot she had dreamed of getting engaged at since they visited there on their trip to Big Sur in 2019, long before they ever started dating. It was a full-circle moment, marking the beginning of a new chapter where their story first began. They are so excited to step into marriage and celebrate God’s goodness alongside all of you, their closest friends and family.

You may be wondering why Alex and Katelyn chose to celebrate their wedding in two different locations. While it does require a bit of traveling, each place holds deep meaning and reflects the people, faith, and memories that have shaped their story. The ceremony will take place at Montecito Covenant Church, nestled in the hills of Montecito. This church is special for many reasons. Both Alex and Katelyn grew up attending Vacation Bible School here, and it is the parent church of their current church, Oceanhills. It is also where Katelyn’s parents, Troy and Cheryl, were married in 1996, by Jon Ireland, the same pastor who will now marry Alex and Katelyn. Celebrating their marriage here feels like honoring both their faith and the generations that have gone before them. The celebration will then continue in the beautiful neighborhood of Hope Ranch, at Alex’s family home. This house has been a gathering place for countless memories over the years. Alex and Katelyn have spent an incredible amount of time here with both of their families, sharing laughter, hosting tomato fights in the garden, enjoying Monica Wilson’s infamous dinner parties by the pond, and competing (and always winning) family flag football and soccer games on the lawn. More than just a home, it has been a place of joy, community, and growth, and has played a pivotal role in their relationship. Thank you so much for being willing to travel with us through Santa Barbara. It means the world to us to celebrate our marriage in these two meaningful places, surrounded by the people we love most.