Barrett and Korrie first met at a mutual friend’s wedding, a night filled with celebration, laughter, and just a little bit of fate. From the start, they were both immediately intrigued and interested in one another. Between stolen glances and a few exchanged words, the connection was clear. As the night came to an end, Barrett’s mom, Holly, stepped in to make sure names were exchanged. As the night came to an end, it seemed the moment might fade into memory — but Barrett had other plans. Little to Korrie’s knowledge Barrett was asking the groom for her number. Five long days later, her phone lit up with a text from him. Eleven messages later… Barrett was unexpectedly ghosted.

After eight months of silence, Korrie realized she couldn’t stop thinking about Barrett. After careful prayer and consideration, she decided to be brave and take a chance. She sent a message, apologizing for the silence and asking how life had been. Hours felt like days as she waited for a response. Then finally — her phone lit up. Barrett would later say their first few texts were a little dry and awkward, but something kept him holding on. Texts slowly turned into late-night phone calls, phone calls turned into FaceTimes, and before they knew it, the distance between them didn’t feel so far. Soon, he wasn’t just talking about seeing her — he was making plans to come see her.

After months of planning and counting down the days, Barrett finally made his way to Missouri. The anticipation had built for so long that to say they were nervous would be an understatement. When he arrived late Thursday night neither of them were sure what they were doing. They spent the entire weekend immersed in each other’s world. From playing cards with Aunt Linda and Uncle Johnny, to trips to the zoo, pickleball matches, Bass Pro, antiquing adventures, and one tick infested hike, every moment felt easy. The spark they had felt from the beginning was not only still there — it was growing. He was welcomed and loved by the people who meant the most to her, and somewhere in the middle of that sweet weekend, Barrett began to take root in Korrie’s life and heart. Before heading back to Indiana, he surprised her with flowers and asked her to be his girl. She said yes — and that hasn’t changed since.

Months later Korrie traveled to Indiana for Christmas break, filling the two weeks with family celebrations, HYC with the youth, and a special trip to Canada. As the busy days passed, her quiet hopes for a proposal slowly began to fade. Near the end of the trip, they visited Barrett’s family in Canada. They spent most of the day apart, making the evening feel completely ordinary. When Barrett returned from pickleball, his Uncle Derek suggested a limo ride to the Falls. To avoid suspicion, Barrett pretended he wasn’t interested while Korrie playfully convinced him to go. As Korrie admired the breathtaking view, unaware of what was unfolding, Uncle Derek slipped the ring into Barrett’s pocket and quietly gathered a small audience. Moments later, Barrett dropped to one knee, and Korrie was completely surprised!