Our story started the very modern way: a match on a dating app. Helen reached out after seeing in his profile about his ideal relationship… “Two imperfect people running hard after Jesus.” Scrolling through her photos, Ian spotted a familiar background in Helen’s baptism photo - a church pond. Plot twist - we were already part of the same church without knowing it! We’d been crossing paths in the same sanctuary for years, and it took a dating app to finally connect the dots. Divine timing? A very Dallas-sized coincidence? We’ll let you decide - we’re calling it providence with a side of serendipity. Our first date was a bit of a wildcard. Helen wasn’t quite sure how to read Ian with his arms folded most of the time (spoiler: he was just nervous and sweating bullets). They ended up closing down the restaurant and talking outside for another 30 minutes. Good move on Ian’s part to ask for a second date. Our second date was anything but casual. Helen came prepared with thoughtful questions about faith, life goals, roles in marriage, family, and the future - basically the full vision-casting conversation. Ian jokes that it felt like an “interrogation,” but was glad we got to discuss those topics early. Thankfully we discovered we were aligned on the things that matter most. From then on, the conversations flowed balanced with plenty of ridiculous, goofy moments and lots of laughs. That first Christmas things got more serious. Ian usually heads out of town for family time, but he stayed in Dallas to spend it with Helen. What started as a few dates a week quickly became every possible day together - we’d finish one day already counting down to the next. Along the way, wise counsel from mentors, friends, and books - a huge shoutout to Tim Keller’s The Meaning of Marriage - helped us see this wasn’t just fun… it was something deeper. We want to tackle life’s highs, lows, and everything in between as a team, with Christ at the center holding it all together. Marriage as friendship + grace + service? Yes please! We’re so grateful for how the Lord wove our paths together. We’re beyond excited to say “I do” and keep writing this story. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Ian had been quietly planning for weeks, disguising everything as my “early birthday celebration.” All I knew was to dress up for what I thought would be a nice dinner reservation. He took me to a beautiful park in Highland Park and pointed out a gazebo - weeks before I commented how those are such cute places to get engaged. I started scanning for my friends or a hidden photographer but didn't see anything suspicious. I relaxed a little, thinking maybe it really was just a sweet birthday stop. There was a long line of people waiting for photos at the gazebo, so we kept walking. We stopped by a park bench where Ian handed me a "birthday" gift. Inside was a stunning glass piece engraved with an acronym of my name, each letter tied to a quality he sees in me paired with a Scripture verse. It was so thoughtful and romantic, tears started flowing. Then he looks at me and says “This isn’t a birthday gift… it’s an engagement gift.” I don’t remember what he said after that, caught up in the moment. Of course I said YESSSSS! My best friends stepped out from their clever hiding spots and surrounded us with cheers and excitement! Ian’s uncle had been there the whole time capturing every second in plain sight. I’m so grateful for Ian: a man who listens deeply, plans thoughtfully, loves intentionally, and even turns a “gazebo dream” into a perfect park-bench moment when life doesn’t go exactly as planned.