We met—or so Drew thought—our senior year of college. The truth is, Kassidy had known who Drew was for a few years and had been quietly crushing from afar. Just three weeks before graduation, she finally gathered the courage to send him a message on Instagram to introduce herself. Much to her surprise, Drew asked her out on a date the very next day. Even though we had never officially met, that first date felt effortless — like we’d known each other for years. We spent six hours talking, laughing, and realizing there was something special about this connection. Needless to say, the first date went well — it ended at midnight, and our second began just seven hours later over coffee the next morning. The timing wasn’t ideal — graduation was three weeks away, and we were both moving to different states for work (Drew to Nevada, Kassidy to California). But despite those circumstances, the Lord made it abundantly clear that this timing was perfect. Date after date, we realized that even with our different personalities and the distance ahead, this might be something worth pursuing. The following week, Drew met Kassidy’s family of 25, and after surviving that, Kassidy knew he was definitely worth the distance. The day after graduation, we officially began dating and started our long-distance journey. That next year included 50 flights, countless miles, and every bit of effort we could give to see each other as much as possible. Each weekend was precious — exploring our new homes, creating memories, and falling more in love every time we said goodbye. We both knew early on that marriage might be where this story was headed. We wanted to honor the Lord with our relationship and spent time having intentional, heartfelt conversations about what marriage meant and what it would look like for us. Drew was sure Kassidy was “the one” just a few months in, but Kassidy took a little more time to be certain. In April, Drew bought a ring and waited patiently for the perfect moment. On a hot and humid July day in downtown Chicago — Kassidy’s hometown — he flew in to surprise her with a proposal. The day couldn’t have been more perfect: a beautiful setting, surrounded by their favorite people, in one of their favorite cities, finally marking the end of long distance and the beginning of forever. Now, we’re beyond excited to be planning a wedding that brings all of our family and favorite people together in one place to celebrate the love we’ve built. We can’t wait to see everyone and would love your prayers as we prepare for marriage — that God would continue to guide us, strengthen us, and keep our hearts aligned with His as we eagerly look forward to May 22, 2026. With love, Drew & Kassidy