Faith. Hope. Love.

Marissa and Aaron’s story began long before they ever realized it. They both grew up connected to the same church community. In fact, Marissa’s mom knew Aaron when he was just a baby—so well, in fact, that she claims she used to change his diapers. Whether Aaron wants to believe that story is another matter entirely. What’s certain is that their families have been connected for many years, especially through Aaron’s father and Marissa’s mom, who shared a close friendship. As time went on, Marissa and Aaron attended the same church and often found themselves in the same spaces. At one point, Aaron was even Marissa’s Sunday school teacher. During one class competition, she managed to win $20 from him—a victory she still remembers quite well. For years, they were simply part of the same church family. As Aaron likes to say, Marissa was “hiding in plain sight.” Then one day, something shifted. Aaron began to see Marissa differently and couldn’t ignore the sense that God was quietly working behind the scenes. What started with a simple Facebook message soon turned into real conversations—after Marissa jokingly informed Aaron that Facebook was for “old people” and that he should probably just text her instead. As it turns out, he had her number the whole time and didn’t even realize it. From there, their friendship quickly grew into something deeper. Their shared love for God and their faith became the foundation of their relationship. Being together just made sense in a way neither of them could fully explain. It simply worked—one of those connections that feels clearly guided by God. Aaron proposed during an intimate surprise dinner with family and friends at Gervasi Vineyard in Canton, Ohio. Marissa suspected something might be happening because Aaron kept insisting they had to be on time—but she didn’t know the full surprise waiting for her. The evening was filled with warmth, beautiful scenery, amazing food, and the joy of loved ones gathering to celebrate the next chapter of their lives. Today, Aaron and Marissa are excited to begin this new journey together. Their prayer for their marriage is simple: that their life together reflects God’s love and that anyone who sees their union catches a glimpse of that love in action.