Mary Allen and Tyler first met in 2006 in seventh grade reading class. Tyler was decked out in his Texas Longhorn gear (can you believe that?!) and his slicked back hair. Mary Allen, notorious for not eating breakfast, would always get hungry during class. Between the stomach growls and trying to sneak in a snack during class, Mary Allen became a distraction to Tyler. They had several other classes together but their friendship really blossomed in band. Mary Allen played the clarinet, Tyler played the tuba. The tubas sat right behind the clarinets. Tyler and his tuba friends would throw pieces of paper at Mary Allen. Naturally, Mary Allen got in trouble daily for turning around and talking to the tuba section. Towards the end of seventh grade, sweet Tyler asked Mary Allen to the school dance. Mary Allen rejected Tyler and went with his friend instead.

Tyler is a man of patience and persistence. Despite being rejected in middle school, Mary Allen and Tyler continued to be friends throughout high school. Their friendship took them through many nights watching Tyler play baseball and football, multiple trips to the Maddie lake house, and ultimately choosing to attend rival colleges.

During their partying, I mean studying, days at LSU and Alabama, Mary Allen and Tyler remained best friends. They talked almost everyday and took turns visiting each other for football games and spring day parties. During their summers at home, they enjoyed attending Texas Country concerts with their friends. Mary Allen and Tyler were always there for each other no matter the circumstance. College football aside, Mary Allen was a shoulder to cry on when the Cubs won the NLCS (yes, he cried) and Tyler was a listening ear when Mary Allen was applying to graduate school. Their close friends would say “Y’all are going to get married one day!” to which Mary Allen would reply “No way!” but Tyler remained hopeful.

After graduation, Mary Allen spent the next four years at The University of Texas at Dallas obtaining her Doctorate of Audiology. In 2017, Tyler moved to Beaumont, TX for his first job at a paper plant as a Chemical Engineer. After enduring Hurricane Harvey, a car accident, and holidays alone in the 8 short months he lived in Beaumont, Tyler decided it was time for him to find a job closer to home and closer to the love of his life. When Tyler accepted a position at Bell Helicopter in March of 2018, he moved in with his parents and down the street from Mary Allen who was also living with her parents while in graduate school. Mary Allen, Tyler, and their parents were together every Thursday night for dinner, together on weekends watching football, and even took a trip to Napa together. The Maddie and Pollok friendship runs deep.

One night in January of 2019, Mary Allen and Tyler were supposed to be going to a Flatland Calvary concert with their friends. Their friends bailed which left Mary Allen and Tyler to attend the concert by themselves. They danced to their favorite songs and as always had the best time just the two of them. It was at this event where Mary Allen realized her feelings for Tyler. Tyler was the most loyal friend, always up for a fun time, and Tyler was too perfect of a person for anyone other than Mary Allen! When Mary Allen expressed her feelings to Tyler, Tyler could not believe it took her 13 long years to say those words! The next week, Tyler took Mary Allen on their first real date.

In their two years of dating, they celebrated Mary Allen’s graduation, LSU finally beating Alabama, and Tyler becoming a homeowner. They also encountered the unexpected when Mary Allen’s father passed away in November of 2020. Tyler immediately stepped up to the plate and was there for Mary Allen and her family as they mourned the loss of their father and husband, Bill Maddie. The next four months were not kind to the Maddie family, but Tyler continued to show his love and faithfulness to Leslie, Mary Allen, and Shelby.

On April 16th, 2021 Tyler finally decided to pop the question. Mary Allen and Tyler had plans to meet their families for dinner but Tyler’s mom, Patti, insisted they stop by and have a Fireball toast at Bill’s grave on the way to dinner. When Mary Allen and Tyler arrived at the cemetery, the others were nowhere to be found. Mary Allen and Tyler walked down to the pond by Bill’s grave. Tyler gave Mary Allen a hug and told her how much he loved and missed her dad but there was one thing he never got to ask Bill Maddie. Tyler then got down on one knee and proposed to Mary Allen. Mary Allen said YES! A friendship turned into a relationship turned into a marriage! We are forever grateful for all of our friends and family who have supported us a long the way! We are so excited to celebrate with you all on April 9th, 2022!