Our "love story" did not start out as love at first sight. In fact, as many of you know, Wade was in a fraternity with both of my older brothers, and that is how we originally met. My first memory of meeting Wade was in the fall of 2014. We were at a bar in College Station. A youngin', I asked him to buy me and some of my friends drinks, which of course he did (my hero!). Over the years, Wade and I saw each other at various events, but still remained very much friend zoned. Fast forward to the fall of 2018, Wade and I found ourselves guests at a couple of weddings. It was during this time that our interest in each other peaked. Of course, sweet Wade was a tad bit nervous to pursue things with the "littlest Pawelek." However, with some subtle prompting, I finally got him to ask me out. Our first date was at Bungalow Heights in Houston. What was supposed to be a casual night, turned into about a 4 hour event of nonstop conversation. Truthfully, we were both pleasantly surprised at how well the night went. We quickly set up our second date, and things took off from there. Traveling between Houston and Galveston (where I was attending nursing school), Wade and I still managed to spend all of our free time together. He always made me feel extremely special by traveling to Galveston to see me, and we enjoyed many long, sunset walks on the beach with Finlee. When he was unable to make the drive, or I had a stressful week, I could always count on there being a big bouquet of my favorite flowers waiting on my doorstep. It was in Galveston that our love for each other blossomed, but it has continued to grow as life has taken us on many adventures already! We can't wait to see where this next chapter takes us as we venture to become Mr. & Mrs. Coons, and we are so thankful that you all will be able to join us on this exciting journey!

If you couldn't tell from "Our Love Story," Galveston is a place Wade and I hold near and dear. For Wade, there was no other place to propose other than the place we fell in love. For me, I had an inkling it might happen in Galveston, but for some reason I was totally blinded when my sister told me we would be going to Galveston to support my dad in some award he was receiving... During a global pandemic... I showed up to my sisters house; she took one look at my outfit and immediately said "I think this event is a bit dressier." (Thank the Lord she made me change). On our drive down, I kept voicing concern over how we would get the dreaded coronavirus. Still, it never occurred to me that I was headed towards one of the happiest moments of my life! Wade had fooled me by saying he was stuck at a job site and would be unable to make it back in time for the award ceremony. When we pulled up to Beach Town, I grew a little suspicious, but Stephanie quickly assured me that the ceremony would occur in rented homes with only 10 of us in each house. (I can't believe I was so gullible!) We finally stopped, she handed me an envelope and I thought, "Oh what a good idea for us to sign a card for my dad." She then gave me this evil little smile and told me to open the letter, and my stomach dropped. I knew what was happening, but my nails weren't done!!!! I opened the card, and Wade had written a sweet note saying he would be waiting for me at the end of the board walk (let me tell you, this was the longest boardwalk I've ever walked). I practically ran to him. Wade had a darling picnic set up for us on the beach, and he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! Of course I said yes! Amidst all the uncertainty and chaos, for a few hours, all was right in the world as we celebrated together and in Covid style over facetime. Even though many of Wade's thoughtful, celebratory plans were ruined, nothing was going to stop Wade and I from committing to infinity and beyond!