We're Getting Married!

So many things had to happen for Kaylee and Thomas to meet each other! That is how they know it was meant to be. They were both visiting friends and family in Northern California in July 2023. Kaylee was visiting her sister for a Taylor Swift concert, and Thomas was visiting some of his Californian friends for a Napa Valley weekend. They both decided it was a great idea to jump on the dating apps while traveling and matched with each other immediately! They exchanged a few messages, which led to the discovery that Thomas had lived in Lake Forest, CA, for a few months for work, right across the street from where Kaylee attends Saddleback Church. Thomas asked Kaylee to go on a date before they both left the San Francisco area (him back to Belgium and her back to Orange County, CA). They decided to meet up for a breakfast date on a Sunday morning at 8 a.m. before Kaylee's flight home. Looking back now, this is sweet and funny because Thomas is not a morning person (a huge example of "if he wants to, he will!")! They officially met at the Residence Inn for a complimentary breakfast on July 30, 2023. They talked for two hours straight while Kaylee's sister waited patiently in the car after packing her bags for the airport. The conversation was fun and easy! There was even a moment both of them remember where they locked eyes and held each other's gaze for multiple seconds without saying anything. This left a lasting impression for the connection they shared. They resumed talking over Instagram and quickly downloaded the Marco Polo app, which allowed them to conveniently leave video messages for each other despite the 9-hour time difference. The more they talked (and the longer the video messages got), the more they knew they had found something special. After three months of talking every day, Thomas flew out again, but this time to Orange County to visit Kaylee for the first time in October 2023. He met all of her friends and family for the first time and asked her to be official on October 30, 2023. The rest is history! Thomas flew out again in December 2023 to celebrate the new year with Kaylee. He made it a point to show her just how serious he was about their relationship. Next, Kaylee flew out to Belgium for the first time in February 2024 to meet all of his friends and family. She fell in love with Belgium—and even deeper in love with Thomas. He flew out again in May 2024, where they explored more fun cities and did all sorts of activities together. They enjoyed planning surprises for each other whenever one visited. Thomas proposed in Italy on October 13, 2024! Their relationship has been built on faith, intentionality, vulnerability, and the best communication to make their long-distance relationship work. It was SO worth it! They can’t wait to marry each other on May 25, 2025!