We’re Getting Married!!

Shayla and Micole’s story technically began long before either of them was thinking about love, marriage, or wedding websites. They first met as kids—Shayla was five and Micole was six—and spent their childhood growing up side by side as best friends. Like many childhood friendships, life eventually pulled them in different directions and they lost touch for a few years. Coincidentally, mutual friends Greg and Kennedi stepped in and helped reconnect them. What probably felt like a simple reconnection at the time would end up changing both of their lives. Not long after they reconnected, Micole realized something Shayla hadn’t quite figured out yet, his feelings for her were no longer just friendly. In 2019, he confessed his true feelings. Shayla, however, wasn’t quite ready to possibly ruin their friendship or jump into a committed relationship. After all, it’s a pretty big commitment when the person you might date is also someone you’ve known since preschool. Over the next couple of years, their conversations got deeper, their connection grew stronger, and somewhere along the way Shayla began realizing that Micole might have been onto something all along. By 2021, she started recognizing that her feelings for him were changing too… she just hadn’t said anything out loud yet. The moment everything finally clicked happened during Shayla’s solo trip to Puerto Rico in March. While sitting on the beach alone, taking in the view, she suddenly had a simple thought: this would be even better if Micole were here. Sometimes love doesn’t show up in a dramatic moment—it shows up quietly when you realize exactly who you wish was standing beside you. Sometime later, in June, Shayla decided to ask the question that Micole had been patiently waiting years to hear: Was he still interested? Fortunately for both of them, the answer was an easy yes—and the rest truly is history. Not long after, Micole planned what Shayla thought was just a normal museum date. They spent the day walking through the Natural Science Museum together before Micole casually suggested they take a walk through the park across the street. As they approached a gazebo, Shayla noticed a crowd of people gathered nearby. At first she was confused… until she realized the crowd was actually their friends and family. Four of their friends stood waiting with Shayla’s favorite flowers—sunflowers—handing them to her one by one as she walked toward the gazebo. At the center was a beautiful heart made of roses. When Shayla reached it, Micole got down on one knee and asked the question that had been years in the making. At the heart of Shayla and Micole’s relationship is the same thing that started it all—their friendship. They have plenty in common, but they also appreciate the ways they’re different. They can spend hours joking around and making each other laugh, but they also know how to sit down and have real conversations and truly listen to one another. Their relationship is still growing every day, but the most important part has always been there: a strong foundation built on friendship, patience, understanding, a great relationship with Jehovah, and a love story that started when they were just kids. And now, after all these years, they finally get to start their next chapter together.