i definitely do

James and Grace grew up just a few miles apart in Haymarket, Virginia, but their paths didn’t cross until years later, when both had moved away from home. They met through mutual friends while James was living in State College, Pennsylvania, and Grace was in Richmond, Virginia. What started as a friendship quickly became something more, with daily FaceTime calls bridging the distance. After months of talking, they finally met up “in the middle” for what would later be recognized as their first date—though at the time, neither fully realized how much they were falling for each other. That day, they had a picnic at a local park in their hometown. As they shared dreams and goals, they discovered how beautifully aligned their paths were. In that moment of connection, a butterfly appeared—fluttering around Grace, then James, before landing peacefully between them, as if to mark the start of something special. Seven years later, James brought Grace back to that same park. Surrounded by memories and love, he released 14 butterflies before asking her to spend forever with him.