As many of you know, we had planned to get married this summer. With the outbreak of COVID-19, we were forced to make a difficult decision in regards to our wedding. After much prayer and conversation, we decided to have a small wedding ceremony on July 1, 2020 with our immediate families. Our original wedding plans may have been altered by COVID-19, but we praise God for preparing the most perfect plan B for us. While we were sad to not share our special day with the rest of our family members and friends, we look forward to having a big celebration with you all next summer!

Letters have always played a special role in our relationship. Call us old souls, but we love how they provide such an intentional, thoughtful way to express love to one another. On Saturday, January 4, 2020, Jack Ryan dropped off a special series of letters at my house. I was instructed to open and read the letters every 30 minutes and be ready for a date later that afternoon. In each letter, Jack Ryan helped me reminisce on the past 4 years of our relationship, including all the rehearsals, concerts, dates, and fun events we experienced together, as well as the tough times that challenged us and forced us to press more into the Lord. When it was finally time for our date, Jack Ryan picked me up and took me back to the very place we went on our first date: Gulley Park. We made our way to the gazebo, complete with twinkly lights and a photographer hidden in the bushes. Jack Ryan asked me the question I'd been waiting my whole life to hear, and I said yes!

We both grew up in Northwest Arkansas and lived just 30 minutes from each other. Growing up in band, there is no doubt that our paths crossed at some point along the way. However, we didn't actually meet each other until we got to college! Both being in the marching band, we saw each other from afar but never spoke. Jack Ryan was a trumpet player and Madeline was a twirler, so we never had a reason to speak in such a large group setting. It wasn't until we became part of the same friend group in the spring of 2015 that we actually got the chance to know each other. Fast forward to Early Week at the beginning of our sophomore year, Jack Ryan finally got the nerve to strike up a conversation with her during a band practice, and then again at the first football game of the season. We went on our first date on September 23rd, 2015, and the rest is history!