Our love story is a modern-day one. How did we meet? The old-fashioned way: the internet, specifically an app! Although we met digitally, it's surprising that we had never met in real life! We both have many mutual friends and also served in the same ministry, although at different times, chances are we have been in the same room at the same time without even knowing! Luckily for Jared (Mason won't approve of Jared calling himself lucky but he truly is!), it was Mason's first day on the app and the opening line was an introductory point on Jesus, Fried Chicken, Driving with the Windows Down, and Judah and the Lion. Soon after we began to chat and eventually found ourselves on our first date together at a local park where we just hung out, talked until the sun went down, and ate fried chicken! From there, we continued to go on dates until April 21st, when Jared asked Mason to be his girlfriend! She said yes then the next day she took a two-week trip out west! (Yay!) However, ever since that first message was sent, the Lord has been incredibly faithful and generous in this relationship! Fast forward to January 7th, where Jared proposed to Mason in the park where we had our first date! Next stop: our wedding!

Jared’s Point of View: Proposing to someone and getting everything together is difficult, it’s even more difficult when you’re still in a pandemic and there’s a snowstorm. I had asked Mason’s parents for their blessing in October but wanted to wait until the holidays were over. I received the ring on December 1st and it was just sitting in my closet waiting for its time to shine. Fast forward to January 6th and a massive snowstorm hit Lexington; close to 10” of snow now covered the spot where I’d be getting down on a knee: the park where we had our first date. After talking with some of Mason’s friends for the particulars and decorating (shoutout Maria, Carly, and Bri!), I needed to start moving some snow. My friends Vinny and Eric helped clear a path and a spot for the proposal. Vinny was the MVP of the day as he used a borrowed leaf blower to knock the job out quick and still drove me around to finish some errands. I didn’t want to lie to Mason but, I mean I had to, right? I told her we were going up to visit my grandma but we all know that’s a lie. I picked her up and said “Oh, by the way. We have to stop and Liz and Eric’s to drop off a cookbook” (that I had Eric order to my house “on accident”). We went over and coincidentally, their house backs up to said park. From there, in a confusing manner, we walked out the back to reveal a tent in the snow! When it started to really click, Mason repeated “What are we doing?!?” until we were finally under the tent. Well, you know the rest! I got down on a knee, told her how much I loved her and that I want nothing more than to spend my life with her. Oh, and asked her a very important four-word question! Spoiler alert: she said yes!