We are getting married!

Weston and I first met in 8th grade at the Diocese of Phoenix, interviewing for the Christian Service Awards. From the moment I saw him I knew I liked him, and lucky for me, he felt the same. We volunteered for every service event we could just to be together, and little Weston (intentional and determined as he still is) asked me out on an official date every. Single. Time... even despite my always turning him down. Never taking no for an answer, Weston kicked it up a notch. At a Christmas service event our freshman year, Weston walked into the Diocese again with his guitar in hand. He pulled the chair out in front of me, propped his knee up with his guitar, and sang “All I Want for Christmas is You”… without breaking eye contact. Now, being serenaded in movies SEEMED romantic, but I was mortified. What should I do with my hands? Where do I look? …I ran out on him halfway through the song. Weston ran after me, handed me a handmade bracelet, asked me on a date, and I (despite being crazy about him) once again turned him down on account of thinking we were too young to date. Secretly, I knew I wanted to marry him someday and didn't want to mess it up now, but of course, he didn't know that. Poor guy. However, God works in marvelous ways. Following MANY answered prayers, and Weston's constant dedication to pursue me, we finally went on that date - only one decade after we first met. Weston is without a doubt my dream come true. He dances with me in every room we enter, prays by my side, makes me laugh, spoils me with a classic love, and…sings to me still. I just don’t run anymore! I can’t wait to marry my sweet best friend. - Michaela Mary

From the moment my eyes first caught sight of Michaela, I had an intuition that she was the one God made for me. After our first date, I was determined to make her my wife. Now, Michaela is too smart for her own good. It is nearly impossible to surprise her. Therefore, my main endeavor in proposing was to catch her off guard while we returned to the place we first met. I coordinated with the Diocese of Phoenix to doctor up a pretend "donor engagement event" at the Diocesan Center where Michaela was to speak as a past recipient. She would arrive at the very place we met at a designated time, where I would instead be waiting! I planned the specifics of the proposal with one of Michaela’s bridesmaids, Sarah, who graciously took photos of what would be one of the happiest moments of my life, while my family helped coordinate my travel. Above all, Mrs. and Mr. Wuycheck provided the greatest help in keeping the secret from her daughter, kindly asking Bishop Olmsted and Vicar General Adamson to be present and bless our engagement, and planning a surprise engagement party for the following day. Michaela started to become suspicious. To throw her off the plan, I spent weeks laying the groundwork for her to believe there was no possibility of me being in town--from claiming that I had duty that weekend to acting as if my phone were dead while I was out with friends. By the night before I would get on one knee, she had given up thinking a proposal was imminent all while I was back in the Valley refining and rehearsing what I would say in less than 12 hours. Sarah and I arrived to the Diocesan Center early, and then I waited with a ring and flowers in hand for what felt like hours in the courtyard where Michaela and I first met all those years ago. Her jaw dropped as she came out of the elevator and I yelled across the courtyard, "Michaela Mary!" Needless to say, she said yes! - Weston