The Day Has Finally Come!

In November of 2015, Austin and Madison unknowingly worked at the same mall in their hometown, in stores right across from each other. One day, Madison was walking back from her break when a cute guy approached and tried to give her a coupon for $5 off at the store he worked at. When he saw she already had one, he took it back from her. Despite losing her extra coupon, Madison mentioned to her best friend, who was on break with her, that she thought the guy was cute and learned his name, but she never made a move. It wasn't until months later that their paths crossed again. It all started with a simple comment on Instagram. Madison's grandma had left a sweet 'beautiful' under one of her selfies, and Austin chimed in with a casual 'agreed.' Little did they know, that brief interaction would blossom into a deep and lasting connection. They quickly became inseparable best friends, sharing laughter, adventures, and unforgettable moments together. From spending time with their families and attending prom together, to cheering Madison on at track meets and traveling to her brothers' baseball tournaments across the country, Austin and Madison cherished every moment and memory made together. After just a month and a half of hanging out, they both knew there was something special between them. On April 16th, 2016, they made it official. However, their journey together faced its first challenge when Austin left for Air Force basic training shortly thereafter. Despite the distance, their love only grew stronger. For two months, they wrote letters back and forth, counting down the days until they could be together again. Austin was stationed in Louisiana while Madison started college, which meant multiple flights and drives back and forth to visit each other as often as possible. After three years of long-distance, Madison moved to Louisiana to be with Austin and completed her degree online. Together, they built a home in Bossier City, Louisiana, surrounded by their beloved pets — Yoda, Nala, Bruno, and Reese — and made many lifelong friends who feel like family. Once Austin separated from the military, they decided to move back to Indiana, where they recently bought a new home and both are now working in Information Technology. Austin is currently pursuing his Bachelor's in IT, and in their free time they enjoy watching movies, playing video games, working out, golfing, and spending time with friends and family. Their journey has been filled with challenges, growth, and unwavering love. Now, as they embark on this new chapter and prepare to say 'I do,' they are grateful for every twist and turn that brought them closer together. They can't wait to celebrate their love surrounded by family and friends, and to continue writing their love story together, forever and always.