While our wedding is not happening the way we have always dreamed it would, we can't wait to see you all virtually!

...You're probably wondering how we got here. Well, to explain, let's take it back to the summer of 2013. Mary & Jess were both gearing up for a summer working as camp counselors in the beautiful woods of Indiana. At the time, Mary was dating someone else *gasp* and Jessie was just trying to make sure her bare feet didn't touch the grass (hello, socks and Birkenstocks!). Mary and Jess sort of got to know each other while attending training for counselors-but ultimately wound up just living the next 4 years as friends on Facebook. Fast forward to 2017. Mary is all settled in at her job at a little church in the Chicago neighborhood, Wicker Park, when she hears her boss say the name of the new seminarian (fancy church word for mini-intern) who will be starting at the church in September. "Jessie Edelman? I'm pretty sure I know her!" Mary exclaimed. Gentle Zoom wedding participant, Mary DID know her. During Fellowship time on Jessie's first Sunday at church, as (a very single) Mary was bustling about doing work things, the two were reunited. Jessie came up to Mary to say "Hello!". They exchanged the ever-awkward "WOW HOW SMALL IS THIS LUTHERAN WORLD, HUH?" and decided that they should catch up soon! Very soon after this, Jessie & Mary started to hang out with one of Jessie's classmates (and good friend of Mary's from both camp & college...seriously, Lutherans...I'm tellin' you) and their spouse. This group of 4 became very close, and did (and still do) almost everything together. Mary started asking Jess out on sneaky dates. Mary would drive an hour from her Northside apartment all the way down to Jess's Southside apartment to take her back up north for dinner and then back south afterwards. Whew...Mary had it bad. One night of dancing & a risky, love-professing text later...a Taylor Swift lyric-esque romance was born. We can't wait to keep building our life together. We are so thankful to each of you for being a part of our story. Love, Mary & Jessie